Show Some front
A good first impression is crucial when selling — here’s how to spruce up your outside space
As anyone who has indulged in the brutal ‘ swipe left’ culture of internet dating will testify, you don’t often get a second chance to make a first impression. and the same is true when trying to sell your property.
That’s why what lies at the front of your house — be it lawn, gravel or flagstones — can play a major role in making a sale.
Indeed, having a pleasing ‘shop front’ to snag potential buyers scrolling through listings or even walking past outside can offer leverage to boost the asking price, says Colby short, Ceo of estate agent comparison site getagent.co.uk.
‘Homes that offer a front garden carry a 4 per cent property price premium versus those without, and that equates to more than £11,000 in the current market,’ he says.
so what changes can you make to the patch in front of your house to help improve the saleability of the property?
some alterations are simple, entry-level innovations. For example, even the smallest swatch of grass should be mown and rubbish-free. In fact, bins and recycling boxes are often the first thing you see in a front garden, as well as the detritus left by squirrels who have curated bits of dinner from your bags of rubbish. But it’s easy to hide bins away in a box unit.
‘If you’re trying to hide ugly bins, how about building a bin store with a planter on the top, then you can have some gorgeous outdoor succulents and flowering alpines?’ says QVC UK’s gardening expert Michael Perry. you can also buy wooden bin stores from outdoor furniture suppliers such as Wayfair (from £125.99, wayfair.co.uk).
Meanwhile, hanging baskets (pictured right) outside your front door help to break up a harsh brick wall, says sean Lade, of easy Garden Irrigation.
‘Hanging baskets are an excellent choice for adding colour and scent to your front garden and soften the front of your house. They should be installed at eye level — about 5 ft off the ground.’
and think about replacing tired fencing or dilapidated brick walls with natural borders, such as Boxwood hedging, which will add visual interest and is also easy to prune throughout the year.
‘If you prefer a cottage garden appearance, then why not train climbing plants to create natural archways around your front door, porch or gate?’ says Deborah Cobb, product manager at builders’ merchants MKM.
‘Raised flower beds are also a clever way to add some natural foliage. If you fill them with evergreen shrubs, then they are an easy-to-look-after and low-maintenance option that will look good all year round.’
In terms of what plants to go for, nicola Bird, founder of seed subscription service The Floral Project, suggests some annual flowers are perfect for planting at the front of your house if you’re looking to sell. ‘They include varieties such as cosmos, phlox, zinnias and sweet peas — not only to bring a bright splash of colour to your front garden, but also serve as a
great conversation starter with your potential buyers.’
even if you don’t have a patch of grass in front of your home, there are other fundamentals which will help with the sale, says Jonathan Rolande, professional property buyer at housebuyfast.co.uk.
This includes jet-washing your path. and just before a visit from potential buyers, remove any vehicles, where possible, to help to create an impression of space.
‘Clean the windows, frames and front doors — and clean the house number,’ he says. ‘If the garden is mostly given over to parking, soften the look with pots and planters filled with bright flowers and attractive shrubs.’
heaDDs that if you don’t have a lawn, terracotta planters on the front sills look great with fragrant plants such as lavender and rosemary appealing to the sense of smell, too. If your front garden is really small, use decorative gravel such as pea shingle or slate chippings, suggests Thomas Goodman, property expert at homeowner and tradesman connection website myjobquote.co.uk.
‘This will give you an attractive, lowmaintenance base for topping with a few nice plant pots.
‘ Fix anything that’s broken, including gates, fences and walls. These detract from any nice planting and give the impression of a home that’s not properly maintained and is going to need work.’ Colby short says some items in your garden should be permanently jettisoned to improve the chances of a sale. ‘you may think your garden gnomes are cute, but to a prospective buyer, they can be just plain creepy. The same goes for any large statues or display items, particularly if they are of a political, religious or risque nature.
‘When it comes to potential buyers, you want to present a blank canvas. But that doesn’t mean this canvas can’t look good and add appeal in its own right.’
MIRROReD furniture provokes strong emotions. Some see it as the epitome of bad taste, flashy and bling. Others know that mirrors have magic powers. A mirrored table or cabinet makes a room or a hallway appear more swish and spacious. It’s a trick that bars and restaurants employ to ensure their establishments appear roomier and more inviting — and they can add lustre to your home, too.
Choosing a piece of mirrored furniture also sends out a sign that you are aware of one of the year’s trends — the return of Art Deco, the influential style that emerged in the 1920s. It blended forms that celebrated modern machinery with decorative elements drawn from Greco-Roman culture and nature. The mirror was a favourite material,
used on the surfaces of furniture and walls to supply a shimmering silver and gold effect.
Probably the most famous piece of Art Deco architecture is New york’s Chrysler Building. Completed in 1930, its sunburstpatterned stainless steel spire remains one of the key elements of the Manhattan skyline.
Art Deco console tables, drinks trolleys and other items from the era of the building’s construction sell for thousands on auction sites such as 1stdibs ( 1stdibs.com) underlining the growing appeal of this aesthetic.
Jamie Watkins, the co-founder of fabric and wallpaper company Divine Savages, explains Art Deco’s allure for a new audience.
‘Art Deco, with its bold geometrical patterns was such an iconic period for design: it’s synonymous with glamour and luxury.’
The resurgent popularity of Art Deco is also based on its practicality: a mirrored piece works with almost any interior, adding interest and depth.
The power of the mirror to create a wow impression has been recognised for centuries. examples of this technique include the round mirror on the wall behind the bride and groom in Jan van eyck’s 1434 Arnolfini Portrait in the National Gallery. It sends out the message that the couple are discerning — and wealthy.
The hall of mirrors in the palace of Versailles was designed to be a place of beauty, but also to display the financial resources of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Mirrors were a luxury item until an inexpensive manufacturing process was invented in the 1830s.
In 2022, it is possible to pick up mirrored pieces for under £100. B&M has a £25 oval drinks trolley with two mirrored shelves that would lend an air of Thirties elegance to any
gathering ( bmstores. co. uk). The £ 94.99 ellison serving cart (a U.S. term for drinks trolley) from Wayfair has a similar vibe ( wayfair.co.uk).
If you believe that the right mirrored trolley would save you money on trips to bars, the larger £144.95 gold oval mirrored trolley from Melody Maison could be the thing ( melodymaison.co.uk).
A mirrored cocktail cabinet will dazzle guests. The £1,200 Primrose & Plum champagne and gold cabinet has a JazzAge feel ( primroseandplum.co.uk).
The £299 Venetian sideboard from Furniture Market, meanwhile, is a more modestly priced way to conjure up the party spirit
of the Roaring Twenties ( thefurnituremarket.co.uk).
The show flats of apartment blocks are often equipped with
mirrored cocktail cabinets containing bottles of spirits and
crystal glasses. This makes buyers dream of dinner parties, with a prelude of aperitifs, but also
serves to make the apartment appear even roomier.
A console table in the hall also creates an illusion of space
which can be amplified by the addition of a lamp. homesDirect365 has a range in the style of almost every era including Art Deco, Regency, the 1960s and the 1970s. Prices start at £233 ( homesdirect365.co.uk).
The bedroom is often the most cramped room in either a house or flat which is why this can be the best place to experiment
with mirrored furniture. The desire to preserve family harmony is another reason. The other members of your household may prefer the kitchen and living room to be slick and understated, seeing anything mirrored as excessive. In the bedroom, however, you can indulge your decor fantasies. habitat has the one- drawer hepburn bedside table for £76 ( argos.co.uk).
Next offers the antique effect Fleur bedside table which costs £225 for the one-drawer version and £275 for the two- drawer version. The Fleur is also available as a six-drawer chest for £599 or a £1,150 double wardrobe if you seek to waft around your bedroom channelling your inner 1930s hollywood screen siren ( next.co.uk). Dunelm’s Venetian mirrored dressing table also offers a chance to live out your dream of silver screen stardom (£ 449, dunelm.com).
If mirrored furniture has brought out your party animal, kindling a passion for Art Deco in every guise, Divine Savages offers Deco Martini wallpaper whose design is based on the geometric forms, with a hidden Martini glass within the print (£150 per roll, divinesavages.com). Some of your guests may not be too busy checking out their reflections on the doors of the mirrored cabinet to notice this subtle and witty detail in the wallpaper.