Increasing Your Kerb Appeal for Summer

As Summer draws closer, it’s important to shift our focus onto our kerb appeal instead of just the interior of our homes. The good thing is, you can do all of this on a budget and whenever you’re ready to sell your property.

Most homebuyers often make up their minds by assessing the exterior of a house, and often you find prospective buyers doing drive-bys before they even consider a viewing. This shows that kerb appeal plays a huge role in influencing a buyer’s decision, so by maximising your outside space, you could greatly improve your chances of a good sale. Getting these things ready for your property to be photographed is a great idea in terms of timing.

Spring and Summer are the perfect seasons to handle home improvement projects (especially outside ones!), so we’ve come up with some low-cost ideas for improving your kerb appeal without seeking professional help.

Firstly: Change Your Perspective

Chances are, there are a lot of things you won’t discover if you don’t give your home an objective look. The best thing is to scrutinise your entire property through the eyes of an outsider. You will be able to determine if you still find it attractive, even with the chipping paint. Sometimes taking a photograph from the roadside and looking at it closely, or even showing it to a friend, might help to identify issues that stand out.

Take note of the areas you need to pay extra attention to during the day and at night. You can also ask for the opinion of your neighbours!

Tidy Up Spaces

Consider creating a plan so that you can handle the most important and affordable first. Ensure that you have a rough estimate of each project so that you can set your budget accordingly.

It’s common for different parts of the home to accumulate dirt during different seasons, not just on the inside. Cleaning is one of the inexpensive ways to give your home an instant lift and it doesn’t have to be limited to the interior. Use a power washer for your front pavement, porch, driveway, and walls.

Reduce the clutter in your front garden by keeping things like BBQs, bikes, toys, gardening equipment, etc. in your shed or in the garage. You can also dispose of things you no longer need completely.

A Well-Tended Lawn

Spring and Summer are the best seasons for showing off a well-maintained lawn and garden, particularly if you are lucky enough to boast a front garden area. Apart from giving your home a neat appearance, it will send a positive message to your visitors and prospective buyers that the home is well cared for and, perhaps more importantly, enjoyed. Set aside time to mow your lawn and reseed/treat/water the grass if needed.

An edging tool can help you achieve a professional look. Supply the bed with enough mulch to stunt weed growth, then trim the trees and branches.

Tackle Maintenance Tasks

Buyers are often quick to notice signs of neglect, so refreshing tired areas can make a huge difference. Repainting a faded front door, touching up exterior woodwork, replacing broken fence panels or pressure washing patios and driveways can all help create a cleaner, more polished appearance. Even simple tasks such as cleaning gutters, removing weeds from pathways and washing windows can help give buyers confidence that the property has been well maintained.

Many homeowners tend to hold on to decorative elements due to sentimental reasons. If your house number and letterbox look outdated, then it could be time to replace them with distinctive ones.

Add Colour and Life

Summer is the ideal season to make the most of gardens and outdoor areas when marketing a home. The front garden and entrance area are some of the first things buyers will notice when arriving at a property, so adding colour and personality can help create a warm and welcoming first impression.

Adding colourful hanging baskets, fresh flowers or potted plants near the entrance can instantly create a warm and welcoming first impression. Seasonal flowers in hanging baskets, window boxes or decorative pots can instantly brighten up the exterior and make the home feel inviting. These small touches can help create an emotional connection and make your property more memorable during viewings.

Create a Welcoming First Impression

First impressions are incredibly important when selling a home, and buyers often begin forming opinions before they even step through the front door. Creating an inviting entrance can therefore have a lasting impact. Updating house numbers, adding exterior lighting or replacing worn door furniture are simple but effective ways to modernise the appearance of a property.

Porch areas can also be styled to make the entrance feel more appealing and homely. A freshly painted front door, smart new doormat, lantern lighting or a pair of matching potted plants by the entrance can completely transform the look of a property without requiring a large budget.

Parking areas and driveways should also be kept tidy and clutter-free wherever possible. By presenting a home that feels bright, welcoming and well looked after from the outset, sellers can help attract more interest, encourage viewings and potentially increase the property’s saleability throughout the busy summer market.

If you’re looking to sell soon and would like some tips on how to make the most of your home’s exterior, get in touch and we would be happy to offer our expert advice.