BY FRAN SWEETMAN 10 easy ways to improve your street appeal. Doors hanging off hinges, overgrown weeds and a dead lawn all
scream neglect. In a buyer’s vocabulary, neglect equals bargain.
Follow these must do steps to make sure your property doesn’t end up
on the bargain list.
Did you know that I can help you save on costly design mistakes by
just one visit to your property?
Most of today's buyers are searching in three stages to buy their next home;
• Doing a web search
• Doing a drive by
• Making an appointment to view
In today's market most buyers are using real estate websites to start their
research. The potential buyer takes just seconds looking at the photograph
of your property before deciding if they are going to ‘click’ for more details.
Buyers are narrowing their searches by selecting fields such as suburb,
number of bedrooms and maximum price. Once the search engine
generates the properties that fill their criteria, buyers scroll through until they
see a property that appeals to them.
That was it... your only chance to stand out!
Your kerbside appeal needs to get you onto the buyer’s first stage list before
you have any chance that they will turn up for a home open. Savvy buyers
are looking at street views in google maps to see what your property looks
like without even leaving their chair!
My design and styling advice can give you a detailed hit list with
purchases and recommendations to execute the professional
transformation your home needs, to help it stand out in today’s
buyer’s market.
Follow these steps to help get you started…
1. Front door
Remove all cobwebs, repair any replace any faulty hardware and oil the
hinges. Remove old fly screen doors. Now is the time to make a memorable
impression with a freshly painted front door in a stand out colour that suits
the style of your home. If needed replace the door handle and knocker with
new ones and buy a new door mat.
2. Windows
Windows should be sparkling clean and window frames and tracks clear of
dust and cobwebs. Remove flyscreens and hose clean before replacing. If
you have timber window frames check to see if they require re-staining or
re-oiling. If you have painted timber frames these should be in good
condition with no cracked peeling paint. Sand and re-paint if required.
3. Porch or verandah
Remove all cobwebs, sweep, wash and scrub porch flooring and steps.
Replace any cracked or missing tiles or re-paint concrete with new paving
paint. If your porch is brick or limestone, pressure clean then seal with a slate
sealer if needed. If you have timber decking, nail down any popped boards
then re-oil as per manufacturer’s recommendations. If you have balustrade
railing, check for any signs of rust or loose fixings and then repair and repaint
as required. Make sure that all external lights are working and free from
cobwebs.
4. Lawns and paths
If you don’t have time to weed and feed your front lawn to get it green and
in top shape in time for your market date, you may need to invest in rolled
lawn. Lawns and verges should be free of weeds, cut every couple of weeks
during the marketing campaign and keep edges trimmed with a lawn
edger. Paths should be free from weeds, swept clean and lawns trimmed
neatly to the edge.
5. Fence
Fences should be in good repair, have no peeling paint and not be missing
any railings or posts. Bore stains should be removed or painted over. A fresh
coat of paint on timber, metal or cement rendered fences makes your
property a stand out.
6. Letterbox
Your buyer’s need to find you! Make sure that your house number is clean
and clearly visible. If required, repair, repaint or replace your letterbox
and/or house number.
7. Gardens and planting
Weed all garden beds. Don’t forget the garden beds in front of your fence
and verge. Trim back overgrown plants and hedges and maintain
throughout the marketing campaign. Remove any dead plants and
replace with new ones. Mulch garden beds with a moisture retaining black
mulch. Landscaping should enhance a property not hide it. Cut back
foliage to reveal good architectural lines and allowing more light into
internal front areas of the home.
8. Carport and garage
If you have a roller door or tilt panel door make sure that it is in good
working order. Remove any cobwebs and hose the dust off. Ensure all lights
are working. Paint the door if the paint is faded and peeling. Leave garage
door down for photography and viewings. If you have an open carport,
sweep clean and remove any toys, bikes and camping gear. Your garage
should show that your home is clean and uncluttered and has ample
storage room without needing to spill into the garage area.
9. Roof, gutters and exterior walls
Depending on the age, style and state of repair of your home, you need to
stand back and look at your roof, gutters and exterior walls. Bore stains on
front walls are the biggest turn off when buyers are looking at front
elevations. If your bricks or render are stained brown by your bore, bring in
the pressure cleaners or try bore and rust stain removing solutions. Gutters
should be clean and in a good state of repair. Roofs should be pressure
cleaned to remove any lichen.
10. Yard de-clutter
Now is the time to pack any children’s toys, trampolines, bikes and garden
tools. You may love your garden gnomes, ornaments and hanging pot
plants, but sorry to say, the time has now come for them to be packed
away or given away! Your home is now getting market ready and that
means appealing to as many buyers as possible. Your property needs to
look well kept, easy to maintain and needs to start selling to the buyer
before they step through the front door.
Remember, houses sell from the front first. If the front of your home appears
fresh and well maintained, buyer’s will assume that the rest of the home is
well maintained also.
Once the front of your property has been cleaned and manicured
now is the time to add the finishing touches.
With my colour and design advice, let me help you make your first
impression, the best impression.
Fran is a designer and property stylist available from design consultation right
through to home staging to help you get your property market ready.
If you need help with property styling, design advice, colour selections, and internal and
exterior staging contact
OXYGEN DESIGN SPACE w: www.oxygendesignspace.com
e: [email protected] t: 0409 291 108
! © fran sweetman 2/2/2016