When preparing your property for sale, it’s easy to focus on the obvious: declutter, tidy and clean, repaint, style and de-personalise, but often we forget to take note of one of the first things potential buyers see when they inspect a property: the garden.
Even the most attractive dwelling sitting on bare land or amongst shabby lawns and unsightly weeds can make it difficult for some buyers to envisage themselves living there.
First impressions count and a well-kept garden provides an immediate impression to buyers that the owner takes care of their property. A little bit of planning and work will not only add to your property’s value, but can provide an appealing outdoor dream that potential buyers can immediately imagine themselves relaxing in.
Keep it simple and low cost
Landscaping does not have to be expensive or expansive. It can be kept very simple, neat and tidy with a smartly trimmed lawn, a few carefully chosen plants in a garden and some cheerful pots of colour in the entryway.
Stunning water features and exotic bird aviaries certainly provide ‘wow’ factor, but most people are just as happy with a simpler garden giving them privacy, shelter, the ability to personalise to reflect their own tastes, and one that doesn’t require a full-time gardener.
Enlist some help or go it alone?
You can either work directly with a landscape architect, or draw a simple plan and take a couple of photos to your local garden centre.
Garden centre staff are often very well trained to provide advice, helping to eliminate the ‘trial and error’ aspect when gardening for a more cost-effective and time-saving solution. If you are looking to sell your property soon, ask them to recommend plants that will establish easily and quickly.
Keep it looking its best
Once your property is on the market, you will want your garden looking its best the whole time, so also choose easy-care plants requiring minimal upkeep.
Also, consider the season. A stunning looking summer garden may look bare in winter, so decide how you want your property to look if you are looking to put it on the market in a few months’ time.