Spring has finally sprung and the sun has started making more of a regular appearance. We’re seeing the first BBQs of the year and people are flocking outdoors to enjoy the good weather. In our country, we don’t tend to see a great deal of sunshine, so when the mercury does rise, we Brits embrace it, taking to our gardens and outdoor spaces for dining, relaxing and socialising.
This picture of a laid-back, sophisticated outdoor lifestyle can really help to sell your home. If you do have a garden, making the most of it prior to putting your home on the market can add £££ to the final sale value.
So if you’re planning to sell this spring, it’s worth giving your outdoor space a bit of TLC. In this article, we outline some simple steps you can take to spruce up your garden without breaking the bank.
- Declutter – the golden rule of selling houses doesn’t just apply to indoors. Take some time to tidy up the garden too. Put away any children’s toys, bin any broken pots and clear away gardening tools. Give your garden furniture a thorough clean, treating any neglected wooden tables and chairs, and give your paved or decked areas a good sweep. It’s also worth investing in (or borrowing) a jet wash if your paving has seen better days.
- Get the experts in – know your limits! If you have a broken fence or a problematic tree, don’t try and tackle it yourself – get the relevant tradespeople in to give you a quote for the work. If possible, get any sizeable problems sorted out before you put your house on the market.
- Find your green fingers – whether you’re a seasoned horticulturalist or an absolute beginner, you can make big improvements to your garden by working at the level that’s right for you. As a minimum, you should be looking to keep your lawn neat and tidy and borders clear of weeds. Use a lawn treatment to improve the look of patchy grass. Remove any dead leaves or flowers and turn over your soil for a more polished look. Finally, add low-cost flowering plants such as begonias and hydrangeas to any empty pots. Place them in a sunny spot and water regularly to keep them in tip-top condition throughout the spring and into summer.
- Add a dining area – even if you don’t really use your outdoor space for dining or entertaining, it’s worth creating such an area to help sell the ‘outdoor lifestyle’ to prospective buyers. Investing a couple of hundred pounds in a small table and chairs (bigger if you intend to market your property as a family home) can reap rewards when it comes to a sale.
- No garden? Even the smallest outdoor space can be transformed into somewhere that people will want to spend a sunny afternoon. If you have a balcony or small patio, simply add a few coordinating pots filled with fragrant flowers, a couple of chairs and a side table. Add some ambient outdoor lighting for instant magic!
- Climbing plants – if you’ve more time to plan and a bit of gardening experience under your belt, it’s well worth adding a climbing plant such as a clematis or climbing rose, particularly to the front of your home. It adds instant kerb appeal and can help buyers fall for your property before they’ve even stepped through the front door.
- Don’t neglect the front – speaking of the front door, make sure it’s freshly painted and looking as good as new. If your door is past its best and you can’t afford a replacement, you can replace the hardware (letterbox, knocker etc) at relatively low cost, to achieve the same polished effect.While you’re at it, remember to sweep the front of the house, weed and tidy, add a couple of potted plants and wipe down your window frames.
- Wow factor – if you’ve a bit more budget to spend, think about adding a focal point to your garden. Depending on the target market for your property, you could think about a tasteful water feature, chimenea or even a pizza oven.
With a bit of time and effort, it’s possible to turn an average outdoor space into a tranquil oasis without breaking the bank. And when the time comes to secure a great sale price for your property, you’ll be very glad you did.
Need help with your conveyancing? Get a no obligation conveyancing quote from the property law experts.
