Prior to re-launch I would: sod, plant a couple of trees from Home Depot (very much needed to breakup the monotony of the picture), buy some bricks and dirt from home depot and put a little green plant garden in front of the part that juts out on the right side of the picture, get a couple of flower pots from home depot with flowers for both side of the front door to add some color. 

@Brian Maida, selling costs in a garden variety transaction usually run between 6-10%. 

I'm coming up with a monthly gardener expense of $30 and a (TBD) expense for snow removal.

@Meryl McElwain This may be a silly question but when looking at 2-4 unit building with a basement/garden unit that is not legally zoned as an additional unit here in Chicago, can permits be pulled for the renovation work on that basement?

I lost my job, my dog was hit by a car last week and my wife left me for the gardener.

They're also going to begin allowing agritourism (meaning someone could have organic garden, vineyard in conjunction with some type of VR or B&B with roadside stand, or  ?

REAR YARD IS FENCED IN & IDEAL FOR BBQ'S, PETS OR EVEN GARDENING.

Truth be told, I was sitting in the garden sipping iced tea....but you knew that already, right?

Plan grass if it's just the yard and not really a garden.  

Get the 2 gallon garden sprayer / mister - the one with a wand.