Improve Your Property's Kerb Appeal and Maximise Your Selling Price

We are all aware of the ongoing challenges within the housing market and the stiff competition amongst sellers to get the best price for their property.

But what many sellers are not aware of is that it is not only your property that potential buyers judge when they come for a first viewing - the ‘kerb appeal’ also plays a massive part.

When a potential buyer pulls up to the kerb outside your house what do they see?

They will not only be judging the appearance of your house they will be analysing your entire street.

So if your street is filled with litter, or has food wrappers on the pavement or over-flowing wheelie bins, this could seriously hinder your chances of selling your property for a good price.

In fact the recent study ‘Exploring the Wider Costs of Litter’, by Keep Britain Tidy, revealed that rubbish in a street could reduce the cost of a home by up to a staggering 12 per cent.

First impressions can count for so much – the impressions of a property are made within the first two minutes, so the street leading up to it can make the buyer say 'No. thank you'.

If your home looks the part or is spotless inside, it won’t matter a jot if you can’t get potential buyers through the front door thanks to the mess surrounding your home.

So we thought we would give you some top tips to make the most of a first impression, and so increase your kerb appeal.

Here are a few simple kerb appeal tricks and tips:

- It is a good idea for homeowners to set up community schemes with neighbours to get rid of litter well before putting their property on the market.

- Dress up your front door. If you've got a wooden front door, give it a lick of paint or varnish to spruce it up. The same applies to gates.

- Remove cobwebs from the porch area and from around the doorbell and outside light.

- Invest in good outdoor lighting, keep it clean and fit an energy efficient bulb. Outside lighting can make a huge impact on your kerb appeal while also providing safety and security.

- Clean windows regularly.

- Have the number of your house clearly displayed – buyers will get annoyed if they can't find the property easily.

- To ensure buyers aren't put off by parked cars outside your home nicely ask neighbours to move them temporarily and move wheelie bins out of sight.

- Brighten up the entrance with some colourful potted plants. Buying ready made containers from a garden centre can really help improve the exterior of your home.

- If your home has an older gutter system, it is likely it is also suffering from peeling paint, rust spots, or other problems that can convey a sense of neglect. So make sure you replace old systems with newer, better quality systems.