This article was first published on OneRoof.co.nz and is republished here with permission.
Get out the water blaster and give your pavements, driveway and fence a freshen-up. Photo / Supplied
With a dramatic increase in my step count over the last few weeks I have become a self-professed Masterchef judge when it comes to kerbside appeal.
With my afternoon walking route changing day by day, it has become clear who cares about kerb couture, who doesn’t and why it matters.
The first thing you do when you pull up to an open home is park on the side of the road.
The perspective you get from the kerb to the front door paints a quick picture of how the rest of the viewing goes.
The token real estate picture of the front of the house should not be overlooked as a lot of buyers will decide whether they like the house or not from that one picture.
So let’s look at a few tricks we can do to tidy it up in or out of lockdown.
When choosing outdoor pots, think of scale and your scheme. Photo / Supplied
Planting
Framing the walk way is a great way to add levels and zone breaks from the kerb to the front door.
Try planting lavender or small shrubs to create a pathway experience by giving the buyer something to look at and enjoy before they approach the home.
You can buy potting mix and shrubs online or, if you’re in a lower alert level, you luckily can go shopping for these items.
Finish the planting with a generous dusting of mulch from your local landscape supplier which always gives off a completed and sharp contrast look if using black as opposed to exposed earth.
Your fence and letterbox are noticeable features of your house. Photo / Supplied
Planter boxes
We all love the odd pot, but when choosing outdoor pots think of scale and your scheme.
A mismatch of multiple pots can date the home, instead try building functional planter boxes that can house several plants at one and just choose a few feature pots that perhaps fill odd corners in your front or the door entrance.
By using planters you can create levels of privacy and add interest through layers from the kerb instead of a plain single levelled front.
Fences
A noticeable feature are your fences and letterboxes. Step back and take a good look at the condition of them.
Are they filled with cobwebs, stain-faded, rotted wood or need a decent water-blast or a fresh paint?
Getting out the water blaster is a fantastic lockdown activity to give your pavements, driveway and fence a freshen up and you will really be satisfied with the difference.
By using planters, you create privacy and add interest in your house through layers from kerbside to doorstep. Photo / Supplied
Weeding
Now is a great time to get your lawn into envy mode with your neighbours.
You can start by digging out the weeds, fertilising the soil and getting it ready for fresh lawn seed to fill in those gaps or start fresh.
Weeding is an important spring activity before they re-seed and create a relentless jungle so getting onto it now will make it easier to maintain over the summer months.
A freshly weeded front entry, insulated with new mulch gives the buyer an impression that your garden is easy to maintain, tidy while achieving the ultimate kerb couture look.
– Laura Heynike is director of Pocketspace Interiors
For more property news visit OneRoof.co.nz