Most people have heard of kerb appeal and they also have a vague idea of what it is – the attractiveness of your house, garden and pavement to people passing by.
However, when it comes to assessing your kerb appeal and to improving it, many people don’t actually know where or how to start. If you’re planning to put your property on the market soon, then you need to make it look more attractive inside and outside – here’s how to do just that.
The best place to start is at the front door
Even though people see your garden and your actual kerb first, the first thing they actually pay attention to is your front door. The front door is the equivalent of a first greeting, a first impression, so it has to be a good one.
If you have a wooden door, you can easily bring it right back up with some bright new paint in classic colours like red, green or blue. Even if you’re a fan of unusual shades and hues, stick to tried-and-tested here because you don’t want to put people off.
Then you need to turn your attention to your garden
Your garden is the next thing passers-by and potential buyers will notice, so you need your hedges, fences, lawn and garden path looking their best. Order some grass seeds from The Grass People and give your lawn a new lease of life. You could also add some flower baskets and potted plants around the doorway, as well as pressure-washing the path and any patio or decking areas you may have.
Tidy up any clutter in and around your garden
Your estate agent will probably already have told you to do this, so make sure than any kids’ toys, superfluous garden equipment and rubbish or recycling are well out of sight. If you have a few static toys, like a trampoline or a climbing frame, then leave them in place but make sure they’re neat and clean. There should be no evidence of recycling or domestic drudgery outside, as unrealistic as this may be. If this involves you investing in a small shed or outdoor storage to hide equipment in, then that’s not a bad move.
Make sure people know where your property begins and ends
It’s important to show where your property boundaries are, so trim your hedges and paint any fences in a consistent colour. This tells buyers how much they’ll be getting for their buck, as well as giving them an idea about the neighbours and how well they look after their home.
Offer your neighbours a helping hand
One thing that potential buyers will be interested in is the people who may be their new neighbours. If the people on either side of you could do with trimming their hedges and washing their path as well, then help them out. Sharing the hire of the pressure-washer or just lending it to them for an hour will make a big difference and it’ll do you both a big favour when it comes to making that vital first impression.
(Contributed post)
1
Great ideas and really good article. Take a look at P&P Glass’s range of windows, doors and conservatories and begin your new home improvement project.