The property market is, happily, making a recovery and people are now starting to think of moving house or purchasing a new property. Spring is just around the corner and most estate agents will agree that this is their busiest time of year.
If you are thinking of putting your house on the market, or perhaps it has been up for sale for some time, it is useful to think of your property from the perspective of a possible buyer. There are plenty of property improvement shows on television, and we don’t need to look too far in a property magazine to find the term “Kerb Appeal”. This is a vital aspect of selling a house quickly. Most people drive past a house for sale to get a first impression before they make an appointment to view. If they see overgrown lawns, weedy driveways and peeling paintwork, they may not want to see any further ! Fortunately a lot of people are happy to take on a project as they can put their own stamp on it. However, even estate agents are likely to give you a better valuation if they can see that the house has been well looked after.
Of course, if you are selling the house, you don’t want to spend too much money on improvements. But it is possible to make transformations without going overboard. A very simple feature would be to create a small patio area to act as a focal point in the garden. It doesn’t have to be a huge affair. A simple feature could be created from Mayfair Flags in Sandstone colour or Textured Flags as these are a neutral shade which should appeal to most people. It has modern sleek lines and a border in Retro Block Paving in Bracken or Heather would finish it off perfectly.
Another feature which will appeal to most potential buyers is a low maintenance garden. If you have lawns, why not install a mowing edge? This is set in mortar, flush with the surface of the lawn for ease of mowing. This could be constructed from Retro block paving or Pedesta block paving. Personally, I think Bracken is the best colour as it blends easily with the grass and planting.
Most modern households have at least two cars. Is there room for two cars to park without having to manoeuvre one to allow the other to go out? If not, there is no need to re-do the whole driveway. A simple extra parking space of Tegula or Shannon could easily be added alongside the existing driveway.
And when showing potential buyers around your house, don’t forget to point out all of these thoughtful features that you have added. Make a list of everything which appealed to you when you first bought the property, and add to the list any improvements you have made since you’ve been there. Often, seemingly obvious points are missed because purchasers are overwhelmed by the whole house buying process. Also, they may have looked at several properties, so yours must be the one that stands out above the rest. In fact, you may make so many improvements that you’ll decide to stay right where you are!