Winter is a good time to be an estate agent. According to Rightmove, sellers listing on Boxing Day can make the most of the post-festive 'bounce' in new home enquiries. But it's also the time of year when few of us are thinking about working in the garden.
But think again and it could give you the edge when selling your home.
Tip #1 - Stand at the kerb and look back at your home
Sounds obvious, right? But try it. Look for any things that need to be tidied away, trimmed back or simply removed to make the garden and house look cared for. For example, we all have recycling bins and boxes, so make sure they are looking clean, tidy or better yet, hidden away. Try this checklist and add any new actions of your own.
Tidy away rubbish, toys and ornaments which are personal to you.
Wash or paint any tired woodwork such as fences or doors.
Make sure your number or name of the property is clear from the kerb, ideally at night as well as during the day. A simple solar or battery powered sign which turns on at night will help potential buyers who might be passing before or after work when it's dark.
Take down any dog warning or funny signs. You might like them but might not chime with your potential buyers.
Sweep up leaves or garden debris, but check for hedgehogs and other overwintering creatures.
Rake any gravelled or wood-chipped surfaces.
Consider adding mulch to borders as it hides any weeds, stones and sticks and makes the soil look tidy.
Tip #2 - Invest in some pots for next to your front door
Even in winter, there are flowering shrubs and bedding plants which will make your home more attractive and look cared for. Most garden centres will have seasonal stock to choose from, and many offer great advice for what will work in your garden. Just remember that plants won't grow much (if at all) during winter so buy plants which look full and healthy.
One of my personal favourites at this time of the year is Sarcococcus confusa, a fragranced, winter flowering shrub which copes well with the shade you often have next to homes. While it will grow to over a metre in height over a few years, if you buy a 50-60cm tall shrub it will live in a pot quite happily for the months until you move home and then you can plant it in your new garden! Your potential buyers will stand by your front door waiting to view your home and will be welcomed by a warm, inviting, vanilla scent.
Tip #3 - Make your route to the front door inviting
Another obvious one, but it's amazing how easy it is to overlook the things we see and experience every day.
Fix or paint any gates
Cut back foliage to make paths clear and easy to navigate.
Clear snow and salt a path if there's any snow or ice.
Clear and repair any steps.
Clear and repair a path if it's in very poor condition. It may seem like an expense which you don't want to pay out for, but it's small details like this which contribute to the all-important high-quality first impression you want to create.
If visibility is an issue, consider adding small solar or battery powered lights. No-one wants to be tripping up or falling.
Tip #3 - Make your front door a focal point
If you look from the kerb up towards your house, think about the view you see much like a painter or photographer composing an image. There are design 'tricks' which can draw the eye to the door and make it look appealing. For example, you can emphasise the door by adding framing it with trellis and adding a winter-flowering jasmine. You can add an arch at the end of a path to create another frame. You could install some ready-grown hedges or topiary to create an instant formal garden which looks stylish and timeless even in a snow-covered garden.
Tip #5 - Get some professional advice
If you are still stumped or want some help, call a garden design professional for advice. A consultation visit is often quite cheap compared to the cost of selling your home and can offer creative ideas which are low-cost but effective. If you provide a designer with your expected spend, they will be able to advise how to make the most of your budget and create an effortlessly designed look.
Make your garden the perfect advert for your home
A little bit of time and effort can really make your home look appealing. It's a really worthwhile investment when considering selling your home, which can pay back many times over if you create a positive, high quality first-impression. Call or email me to set up a friendly, personalised consultation visit.