Kerb appeal

This month, Rupert Oliver of Rupert Oliver Property Agents suggests some easy ways to help attract buyers and sell for a top price...

First impressions are everything when selling a house. You want your property to look smart, clean and appealing. Enhancing your home’s kerb appeal can boost the amount of interest your property receives, increase its saleability and, ultimately, result in a better price. In short, kerb appeal matters. Once you’re happy with your interior, look at presenting a well-maintained exterior and focus on a few key details…

The approach

No one wants to begin a viewing by wrestling with a broken gate. If it needs replacing, think about whether wood or wrought iron might work best. If it just needs a lick of paint, keep it in tune with your front door and fences and think about using timeless neutral colours or a wood varnish.

Tidy paths and driveways by removing any weeds and give them a good clean. Trim the grass or plants neatly and sweep away any dead leaves or stray stones.

If you have a garage and its door is visible on approach, get the paint brush out if it needs a refresh. Make it feel as though its not a forgotten extension by placing plants and foliage around the door.

Lavender is also perfect near doorways or along borders. Incredibly tough and resilient, the hardy perennial adds a beautiful splash of colour while greeting visitors with its fragrant scent.

The front door

Starting with the door itself, give it a thorough clean. If it needs a new lease of life, brighten it up with a considered colour that complements the style of the house and era it was built in. For period properties, choose traditional, classic colours. For terraced houses, a brightly coloured front door can look cheerful and inviting and make your house stand out against the others. Research which colours look best with red brick, pale stone or rendered buildings.

Next, take a closer look at your door fittings. Polish and clean the knocker, handle and letter box or replace the door bell if it’s looking worn. Update the address numbers or even paint the existing numbers to give the door a more manicured look and make your property easy to find.

When it comes to the welcome mat, opt for something simple. A personalised mat may put people off when trying to imagine your property as their home.

The guttering

The guttering needs your attention – a gutter full of leaves will be one of the first things prospective buyers will notice. Clear out the muck and only replace them if absolutely necessary.

Hide the rubbish

Think ahead and declutter before any visits and in time for bin collection day. A pile of bin bags in the front garden, porch or doorway can be a real turn off.

The pavement

The street outside your home may not be your responsibility, but it is part of the viewing experience. If you live on a leafy street, sweep away the dead leaves before people arrive and give any patches of grass a trim – the little details might just help.

• rupertoliver.co.uk; 14 Waterloo Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4BT

A FANTASTIC ‘NEW YORK’ LOFT STYLE OFFICE LOCATED JUST OFF PARK STREET

• The office provides open plan office accommodation with features including high quality wood effect flooring, ‘brick slip’ feature walls, LED lighting, together with fitted meeting rooms, WC’s and showers

• Light and airy space suitable for a range of different uses

• Approximate NIA of 2,456 sq ft (228 sq m)

• New lease available

Further information can be obtained via the sole agent:

Burston Cook: Finola@burstoncook.co.uk