Gardens have become increasingly important when selling property. An area that provides a relaxing and attractive feature will make your home more appealing.
Whatever the time of year your garden or patio area must be tidy. This means sweeping up leaves and debris on a regular basis, keeping flower beds weeded, lawns mown and hedges clipped. Front gardens are a real pain, as rubbish will often get blown in from the street and undermine any "kerb appeal" your property may have. Be extra vigilant before potential purchasers arrive.
If you have a gate make sure it works properly (oil that squeaky hinge) and has been painted or treated recently. If you have wooden fencing, this should also be treated.
Clear out any outhouses, garages, sheds and greenhouses. These are often neglected areas of our homes and become dumping grounds for the clutter removed from living spaces. Now is the time for a thorough sorting out and several trips to the recycling centre/tip. Keep bits and pieces in storage boxes and banish the cobwebs. Wooden sheds should be treated as for fencing; greenhouse glass should be cleaned.
Children's toys and bicycles should be tidied away as much as possible. Rubbish bins should be kept in a bin tidy or, at the very least, somewhere unobtrusive.
Credit: One Village
Clean patios, terraces, decking, steps and garden furniture with a suitable cleaner. Lichens and mosses can be slippery, as well as looking unsightly. Furniture should be clean, even in winter.
If you are considering buying new garden furniture, avoid white plastic. Even small areas, such as a balcony, can benefit from a table and chairs. It makes the space look useable and adds an extra dimension to your home. Water features are very popular, but consider your potential purchaser before investing in a grand fountain or pond.
If you are selling a family home, large water features may be a negative because of the dangers to small children or pets.
Gardens need a bit of colour and interest, whatever the season. In the winter, plant pots and other containers with hardy, variegated evergreens, and the occasional flowering shrub. If you are thinking of selling in the spring, plant your containers with bulbs during the previous autumn for a colourful display. If you haven't thought this far ahead, you can buy pots of flowering bulbs from garden centres. The pots can be buried in empty flowerbeds and lifted once the blooms are over and replaced with bedding plants.
For patios and terraces display one or two large feature plants in containers, rather than lots of pots. Do not become too enthusiastic; huge overflowing hanging baskets will make your home look like a pub.
Lastly, make sure that the view of your garden from inside your home is clear. This is really important in the winter when venturing out into the garden might be a cold and wet experience, not appreciated by potential purchasers- and you might not appreciate the wet and dirt they might walk back into your home. The windows should be clean and the view unobstructed by blinds, curtains or ornaments on the windowsills.
