Image link Your home may be amazing on the inside, but what is it saying on the outside? Most of us tend to lavish care and attention on our interiors, but have you ever stopped to consider the exterior? Home have a little factor referred to by estate agents as ‘kerb appeal’, and if you are trying to sell your home, a lot of prospective buyers are forming impressions from the moment they pull up outside. If your home doesn’t make the right impression, then it will have to work much harder to win them over. But a few simple touches to the outside can set a great tone and have them deciding to bid before they’ve even crossed the threshold.
If a home looks sad and unloved from the outside- even if that isn’t the true story – buyers are more likely to assume that essential maintenance and repairs haven’t been seen to. Therefore they may be more likely to lowball you with a lesser value offer. Often when we live in a house, we can become blind to what the outside really looks like. As we pass in and out each day, we don’t take the time to really look and assess what the exterior condition is. Here are the top points to take care of:
Refresh Paint, Windows and Doors
Do the colours and paint condition of your home let it down? Often it’s surprising quite what can be achieved with a straightforward paint job. Ugly brickwork, dingy cladding or peeling wooden accents can all be brought to life and modernised quite simply. Going for a simple wash of neutrals gives an understated, modern look or a bright pop of the right color masonry paint can distinguish your property from the rest. Consider your exterior doors and windows- are they tired and dated? Either consider power washing, repainting or replacing to really have an impact. Replacing garage doors and resurfacing pathways with a fresh lot of gravel, slate paving or even new borders can really make the house of your house shine and provide a welcoming entry point to the home. Maybe consider a brick slip feature wall. Brick Slips look similar to natural brick but with cooler colors giving it a modern feel.
Upgrade Your Front Door
As the focal point of your outside space, a good front door can go a long way to transforming the look of your house front – it also provides added security for the home that is also attractive to potential buyers. When selecting a new door, it’s important to choose one that is in-keeping with the overall design of the house. Warm woods like oak can add a heritage feel while modern glass doors bring additional light and a contemporary feel. Considering colourful detailed glass panels or different colours of paint finishes can give your property it’s own unique identity. For a seamless look, refinish the window frames in the same or a complementary colour. The devil is in the detail too. When refinishing a door consider the metal finishings too – locks, handles and pulls, knockers and numbers can all be redone. Antiqued brass gives a heritage vibe while modern chrome can provide a streamlined look. Don’t forget the garage door while you’re at it- adding panel garage doors can make a property look more well cared for and secure as well as improving it’s appearance.
Photo credit Think About Landscaping
Plants and foliage can really do some heavy-lifting when it comes to face-lifting the front of your home. There are so many options to soften hard edges, provide a splash of colour or add structure. So the the planting scheme should be very much a part of your considerations. Want to create more of a welcome? Go for beds or wooden planters packed full of bright, blooming perennials that will look cheerful and welcoming. A quick fix can be had by introducing containers that hold small shrubs and bushes such as camellia. These are portable, and also provide an ingenious way of screening those ugly but unavoidable functional things, such as electric meters or extractor fans. Add a sensory dimension to your planting scheme with fragrant herbs like rosemary and lavender as well. If the front of your house looks too harsh, soften it up by training some climbing plants such as wisteria or ivy up trellising.
Alternatively, evergreen shrubs can provide year-round interest and structure. Clever topiary becomes a talking point, while simple box hedging can help to define borders and pathways, adding a symmetrical design that looks ordered and modern.
A Pathway to Perfection
Having a beautiful, clearly defined pathway not only frames the front entrance beautifully but provides a warm welcome. Sometimes it can be as simple as power washing old slabbing and replanting soft borders. But you can also replace tired paving slabs with gravel or slate chippings. Consider picking out the pathway with solar powered stake lighting as well. Using lighting at the front of the house is a style statement as well as helping you to find your keys at night! You can also use lighting to highlight the best features, both architecturally or with your planting scheme. It’s a subtle detail but can make a big impact when done right.
What’s In A Name?
Did you know, studies have shown that giving your house a name can increase its value? So keep the house number visible but consider adding a name to the property as well. You’ll need to notify utility companies, the land registry, your mortgage provided, the Land Registry and the local council but you may attract higher bids, especially if you add in a smart slate plaque with the house name. A name can also make it easier for your property to stand out from the others in the minds of potential purchasers.
Consider Adding a Porch
If you can build a small porch at the front of the house, it can have great appeal. It gives an extra sheltered space for occupants and visitors to remove coats and shoes, and leave wet weather gear such as umbrellas, raincoats and wellington boots to dry. Again, this structure can do a lot to change or enhance the exterior – bold glazing for a modern look, timber cladding to add warmth or brick to make things more traditional.
