It’s mid-February already and before you know it the clocks will be going forward and then we’ll see the first signs of summer popping up. If selling your house is on your to-do list this year (a minor item, admittedly…), then you need to start getting that garden ready for a summer sale. Your garden can help you to sell your house, as well as to get a better price.
A well-presented garden can up your selling price
UK property portal Rightmove found in a survey that an attractive, well-planned garden can add up to £15,000 to the value and eventual selling price of a property.
This doesn’t mean that you have to recreate the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, though. You just need to work with the space you have to make the best of it, no matter how big or small it is. Are you paying attention? Good, because you need to…
…start now
Yes, it’s cold, but you can spend a few minutes of every day raking up dead leaves and cleaning the patio, surely? The longer you leave it, the less time you’ll have to do a good job and you’ll end up rushing it.
When it gets warmer, get mowing
A neatly-mown lawn is always a draw, and mowing it also gives you the chance to spot any bare patches and start laying down some new grass seeds so it’s all lush and green by May.
Redesign or create a seating area
You’ve power-washed the flagstones, right? So now it’s time to think about those long summer evenings sat outside with friends. Do you have an outside seating area? If not, why not? Outdoor living spaces are a big seller these days, so see what you can do.
Make a feature
This could be a firepit, or a really cool-looking shed, or a gazebo. Whatever it is, make sure it stands out as the focal point of the garden and that viewers will want it.
Don’t neglect colour
We all know that colour affects mood and behaviour, but this isn’t restricted to the indoors. Make sure that the dominant colours or colour make people feel welcome, relaxed and energised, as well as at home. Try yellows and oranges, as well as the more obvious greens.
Don’t forget the front garden
If you have a front and a back garden, make sure you give them equal attention. If your back garden is a Mediterranean mini-paradise, there’s no point in letting your front garden look like a demolition site. Or, indeed, vice-versa. Share the love.
