As of Monday 1st June, some substantial parts of the UK economy have started to restart as lockdown measures have relaxed. One of the most important for those whose homes are on the market is that house hunters are now able to move home – deals can be made and transactions can go ahead. That said, don’t expect too many viewings in the immediate future. Under social distancing guidelines, we can only technically spend time in other people’s homes when making our way to the garden. Of course, you will likely get requests for viewings over video chat or virtual tours of your home. And it’s very likely that prospective buyers will want to drive past your house a few times to get a feel for it from the outside.
Photo by Fineas Anton on UnsplashAnd you know what that means.
We need to talk about your kerb appeal. While the lockdown has been in place, it’s fair to say that you’ve probably had higher priorities than your home’s exterior. However, now that potential buyers are getting a lot more mobile, it’s a good time to think about what sort of message your exterior is sending…
Keep your foliage under control
Plants, shrubs and trees lend your exterior space a lot of personality and charm. But you don’t want them to look like your outdoor space is high maintenance. Not all buyers are keen gardeners and they may be put off if your exterior’s plants are growing out of control. Steel planters look great outside your front door, and can be a fantastic showcase for your plants that even the strongest of winds won’t tip over. Make sure your lawn is well manicured and that shrubs and plants are well maintained. You want tour plants to look enticing and welcoming without making your front garden seem needlessly elaborate.
Repaint your front door
According to the Home Buyer’s Alliance, 52% of buyers believe that a well maintained and attractive front door is a priority. Your front door needs to look welcoming but secure, inviting but impenetrable. A fresh coat of paint, a new knocker or a new number plate can make all the difference and save you the cost and kerfuffle of having to replace your front door.
You may also want to think about repainting other wooden fixtures like window ledges to hide wear caused by the weather and repairing any cracks, gaps or chips in your wood with a filler.
Hide your wheelie bin
Nobody wants their home to be associated with rubbish. It’s such a small and easy thing to do but keeping your wheelie bin somewhere out of sight and secure can make your exterior a lot more appealing.
Address your drive and walkways
Weeds poking out of the gaps in your flagstone paths and cracks in your driveway can paint an unflattering picture of your home and hint at work for the new buyer to carry out in the future. Now’s the time to get out and start pulling up weeds as well as addressing and cracks in your concrete drive with an epoxy mortar.
Let there be light
Of course, what’s the point of doing all this hard work if nobody can see the results after dark? Invest in some robust outdoor lighting and it will not only show off your beautiful exterior when the sun goes down but also improve your home’s security!
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© Copyright 2020 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife
