Selling a property is always challenging, not least because every homebuyer who views your home will make judgements on your design decisions, DIY skills and overall taste. But, sometimes the hardest part about getting someone to like the interior is getting them through the front door in the first place. Attracting attention from prospective homeowners is half the battle, which is why I’ve put together a guide to improve your property’s kerbside appeal – so you can get a sale as soon as possible.
You might have the most stylish house, with modern furniture, beautifully-decorated rooms and high-spec appliances. However, if the exterior of your property looks dated and isn’t well maintained, it is unlikely you will interest the kind of buyers you want or who will give you the amount of money for your home that you’re looking for. Therefore, ensuring the outside of your home looks good is almost as important as renovating the inside.
Here are just some things you can do to help sell your house.
1) Spruce up your garden
If you’re lucky enough to have a front garden, this is the first thing people will see when they view your home. Therefore, it is essential you don’t let your lawn fall into an untidy state. Whether you have people visiting your house in the winter or summer, you should try to make sure the garden is well maintained. Freshly-mowed grass will instantly give your garden a lift and smarten the overall look of your façade – just make sure to brush up any clumps of grass afterwards!
Gardens are very popular, particularly among families, but if you don’t have one, you can still make the front of your house look nice. I think hanging baskets are a great idea if you don’t have space for pots and they make your porch look colourful and welcoming. Growing plants on your windowsill or having pots outside will also improve the appearance of your home, attracting people to your property before they enter.
2) Clear the guttering
Aside from adding plants to make the front of your home look good, it is also wise to do a lot of maintenance work on the façade so your house looks its best. There’s no point having lots of flowering plants in your garden if your driveway is messy and your gutters are full of debris.
I would make an effort to clear the guttering, particularly during the autumn when a lot of leaves can clog up the drains. This will not only look better, but it will not alert viewers to problems regarding nearby trees and regularly blocked gutters.
3) Replace old doors and windows
When renovating your house, one of the things that often gets overlooked is your front door. However, this may be a mistake, as it is among the first things people see when they visit. If you have an old door or its design doesn’t match up to the overall appearance of your interior, it is worth investing in a new one.
Think carefully about what type of door you get as you don’t want your money to be wasted. Wooden doors with stained-glassed windows always look stylish, with this classic look going well with both modern and period properties. Indeed, they really compliment Victorian or 1930s homes, and will give viewers an impression of what the house looks like inside.
Alternatively, if you live in an estate with recently-built properties, you could get a new plastic door with double-glazed windows, as this will fit in with the look of neighbouring homes.
Don’t forget your windows either – homebuyers are likely to be put off purchasing a property if they think they’ll have to replace single-glazed windows throughout a property. However, while doing this yourself will set you back a significant outlay, you will see a return on this investment as your property is likely to warrant a higher selling price. Lots of purchasers – particularly first-time buyers or busy families – don’t have the spare money or time to replace older windows, so are likely to pay more for a home that has decent windows included in the overall price.
4) Change the gates
While not as important as windows and doors, you may want to pay attention to your gates. Lots of people may be keen on your home if they know it has its own set of gates, as it makes the home appear more secure, so don’t hide yours away if you have any. It can be tempting to keep your gates open if you regularly use your driveway, but on viewing days, close them to let viewers can see them properly.
If your gates have seen better days, I would get them replaced, as this will give viewers one less thing to criticise. Alternatively, you can clean and polish your old gates and give them a new lease of life.
5) Clean the driveway
As your driveway will be in full view, you should make it look as good as possible. This is your opportunity to show off your off-street parking if you have any, so park your car elsewhere when you have viewers round so they can see how much room they have at the front of the house.
Then you should spend time cleaning the paving – brush away any debris and use a pressure hose to give slabs a deep clean. Lastly, you should move your dustbins out of view, as these are unsightly.
The property investment market in the UK can be challenging, so it is a good idea to do anything you can to garner interest in your home and improve your opportunities of getting a sale. By making these small changes, you have a better chance of attracting interest in your home and giving viewers a positive impression of your property before they’ve even looked inside.
Natasha writes for Select Property about the property investment market in the UK. She also publishes many articles about Property on editorial sites and has a passion for Photography.