Selling a house can be even more complicated than buying your first home, and one of the biggest hurdles is often securing a keen buyer. A fresh lick of paint and deep cleaning will no doubt make your home appear more attractive to buyers, though experts have urged sellers to reconsider how they present the garden too. According to property experts, outdoor spaces are viewed as an “additional room” by many house-hunters, so it is crucial to make it look as good as possible – especially in the gloomy autumn weather. Fortunately it is very easy to do on a small budget in just a few steps.
According to Rightmove, access to a garden is a priority for more than 60 percent of buyers looking for a new home, making it an easy selling point for sellers with something to offer.
While merely having a garden is enough to encourage more potential buyers than a flat for the same price, taking time to make it look inviting and presentable is crucial to make the moving process more rewarding.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Charles Taylor, director of Composite Prime said: “Using lighting in place of plants creates zoned areas and requires far less maintenance and upkeep.
“Therefore, looking after your garden and improving the outdoor space (no matter how small) is a great way to add perceived value and help sell your home.”
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You don’t even have to make significant changes to your outdoor space to reap the rewards. In fact, just a few quick and affordable tweaks will do.
Swap plants for lights
Growing a whole new bed of plants is almost impossible on short notice, but there is an alternative.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Charles Taylor, Director of Composite Prime said: “Using lighting in place of plants creates zoned areas and requires far less maintenance and upkeep.
“As the nights draw in, lighting can also be used to extend time outside and get the most out of a decking area.
“The key is to strike a balance between comfort with warm light, recessed fixtures, and natural textures; versus functionality providing enough light by which to move, gather or enjoy an evening meal.”
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According to Lisa Cooper, Head of Product at Thomas Sanderson, outdoor lighting is also ideal for use around ponds.
She said: “If you’ve got a garden pond, try reflecting some standing lights off the water for an eye-catching glow no matter the weather.”
Pendant lights hung over dining or seating areas works well to create a “magical” atmosphere on darker autumn days.
Add colourful accessories
Lisa said: “Although it’s starting to turn a little chillier outside, it’s the right time to inject some brightness into your outdoor seating area, by sprucing up your garden furniture.”
Even if you only have a small terrace with a table and a couple of chairs, vibrant cushions in sunny yellow and pink shades will instantly liven up a tired-looking space.
Tidy up your lawn, beds and borders
Enhancing what you already have in the garden is the simplest way to improve the appearance of your green space.
The experts at The Property Centre noted the importance of adding seasonal floral interest and pruning existing plants to neaten them up.
They said: “During the winter months, gardens can still be places of creativity, nature and new growth.
“To keep your lawn looking lovely, it is important to remove dead grass, moss and weeds that have built up over the summer, as leaving it could restrict air movement and cause drainage issues.”
Winter flowers such as crocuses, snowdrops and hellebores thrive in the cold weather and can be planted as plug plants in containers or garden beds for instant colour.
Removing broken plant pots, raking leaves and of course, keeping smelly compost heaps hidden are also essential to really impress buyers.
