curbappeal2

The following tips, mostly for little or no cost to you, can go a long way towards giving your property "kerb appeal" and create a good first impression. You need to get the prospective buyer out of his car and down your front path to view the inside of your property. Here's how...

BEFORE YOU START - MAKE A PLAN OF ACTION

Take a critical look at the front of your property - the drive, front garden and garage. If possible, ask a trusted friend or relative to assist you, as they could pick up on things requiring attention that you have got used to living with, and may otherwise overlook. Remember, the devil is in the detail.

Make a 'TO DO' list of items that require attention, starting with the easiest/low cost items - such as cleaning the windows, polishing the door furniture, tidying the garden.

It also helps if the tasks are broken down by area - such as :

1. FRONT GATE/DRIVE/FRONT GARDEN/ GARDEN PATH

2. FABRIC OF THE HOUSE - ROOF/GUTTERING/WALLS

3. FRONT OF HOUSE - PORCH, FRONT DOOR AND WINDOWS

4. GARAGE

By breaking the task list down into manageable chunks, it makes the work involved seem less daunting and it is easier to manage. Tick off each task as it is completed. This will give you a sense of acheivement and purpose.

Some of the most common items on the 'TO DO' list are detailed below.

It is important that all these tasks should be done before the house is put up for sale, and photographed by your estate agent for advertising purposes. The main external picture of your house is the most important one. It can either entice, or put off, a prospective purchaser.

1. FRONT GATE/DRIVE/FRONT GARDEN/GARDEN PATH

Remove, on a regular basis, any litter between the kerb and your front gate.

Ensure that the front gate opens and closes properly. If necessary re-varnish or re-paint to match the colour of the front door. Oil hinges and re-hang if required. Consider investing in a new gate if the old one has seen better days and cannot be repaired. Make sure the gate is securely closed before a showing. By opening it, the potential buyer can ascertain whether or not it is in good working order.

Make sure that the estate agent's "FOR SALE" board is clean and clearly visible from the road. It should be securely anchored and should not lean!

Garden fencing should be in good condition. Replace any rotten timber and re-apply a fresh coat of protective varnish or paint to the whole fence.

Make sure the front path is kept free of obstructions (such as children's toys, bicycles etc) and un-necessary growth (such as weeds, moss, wet leaves, intrusive planting) which could cause injury. Power-wash the path if required.

Wheelie bins should be removed from the front of the property and discretly hidden away in the rear garden. Behind the garden shed or garage is an ideal place.

Ensure that the front lawn is mowed regularly and is weed free. A neatly edged lawn helps to make the front of the property look tidy and cared for.

Trim back overgrown hedges and shrubs, particularly if they obscure the view of the house from the kerb.

Consider mulching borders with tree bark or gravel to suppress weeds.

Any gravelled areas should be raked smooth and weeds removed.

A few bold, strategically placed, plant pot displays can add immediate colour and lift an otherwise bland front garden. These can also be taken with you when you move, subject to any arrangement with the potential purchaser.

Park your car in either the garage or on the road near the house, not on the drive where it will clutter the view. Remember, the potential buyer has to be able to envisage his own car parked there.

2. EXTERIOR FABRIC OF THE HOUSE - ROOF/GUTTERING/WALLS ETC

Borrow a good pair of binoculars and take a close look at the state of the roof, both front and back. Replace any cracked, or missing roof tiles. If left unattended, this implies neglect and can lead to long-term problems with damp. Also closely examine the ridge tiles and chimney stack. Repoint and repair, if necessary. It is a false economy if you don't these repairs, as any potential purchaser will try and knock you down on the price to cover the work required. Or, even worse, it will put them off altogether.

Check the mortar between the brickwork and repoint any areas that are showing signs of wear. Also, remove any moss and treat any damp patches.

Ensure the gutters and downpipes are clear of any debris, such as leaves and birds nests, and in a good state of repair. Repaint, if required.

Ensure that the damp proof course is sound and not covered, as this could lead to damp problems.

3. FRONT OF HOUSE - PORCH, FRONT DOOR AND WINDOWS

As an absolute minimum ensure that the outside of your front door, porch and windows are spotlessly clean.

Downstairs and upstairs windows should sparkle both inside and out.

Ensure that the windows allow in the maximum amount of light possible by trimming any intrusive vegetation (creepers etc).

The front door furniture - door handle, door knocker, number-plate, letterbox etc should be cleaned and polished, if tarnished.

The house number should be clearly visible from the kerb.

Make sure the porch and front door open, close and lock properly. Oil any squeaky hinges or stiff locks.

Ensure that the door bell and any security lighting work properly.

Re-paint the front door in a neutral colour, such as white, if the paintwork is faded or peeling. Repaint the front step to match the porch and front door.

Window fascias and soffits should be painted in the same colour as the door.

Remove any items cluttering up the inside of the porch, such as umbrellas, Wellington boots, junk mail, etc.

4. GARAGE

Ensure that the gagarge door is clean. If the paint is peeling, rub down and re-paint in a colour sympathetic to the front door. Make sure the door opens and closes smoothly.

Make sure that the interior is free from clutter, as this can make the garage feel smaller than it actually is.

For a print-friendly 'Kerb Appeal' Checklist...Click here

Useful external links :

The FOCUS DIY website - Advice Centre - offers lots of useful tips on how to improve your house to give it the necessary kerb appeal.

Congratulations!

Having done all of the above, you have given your house the required "kerb appeal" to hopefully entice the prospective purchaser to your front door. Its time to move on to the hallway....... Click here for more

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This site was created and is maintained by Martyn Peter Wilkinson.

Quotes and images not my own remain in the copyright of the originator or else in the public domain.