First Impressions Count!
First Impressions count right? Of course they do!
You wouldn’t go to a job interview in your Pyjamas would you? So why would you put your property out there in less than its finest attire? 
From the moment anyone pulls up out the front of your home, they’ve already assumed what the inside is going to look like and most likely put a subconscious value on the whole house too. In the property market, street appeal is fast becoming an integral part of adding value to your home. Adding extra zero’s to the price tag of your home doesn’t have to be expensive and there are many cheap, easy solutions when it comes time to increasing the street value of your home.
- GATES & DOORS
The first thing a visitor see’s when entering your property is your gate and front door so ensure both are in good condition, working properly and have good quality gate and door handles to match. For a bit of visual interest, paint your front door in a bold contrast colour for instant wow. Out the back, try using the same colour on your rear doors or as a feature tone with items in this hue featured throughout to ensure both gardens are tied together in some way.
2. GLAM UP YOUR GARDEN
It may seem like a no brainer but if your garden has gone a bit wild, it can have a dramatic effect on the value of your property. If your gardens unloved, it can easily be resolved by mowing the lawns, pulling out weeds, packing out garden beds with fresh mulch, bark or pebbles and installing new plants in key focal points of your garden to create visual interest. Install new borders around your garden beds if your budget allows too. If you really want to splash out, try installing a water feature. They’re not only attractive but also bring a sense of calm and instantly add wow factor to an otherwise dull garden.
see all the before and after images from this project here
3. WASH YOUR HOUSE
You’d be amazed at the amount of muck and dirt that builds up on the exterior of your property over the years. This grime can make your property look dull and therefore less valuable. Pressure wash your house (do it yourself or through a professional). You’ll be stunned at how fresh your property can instantly appear through this act alone. Wash the roof, gutters, walls, windows, paths and driveways, literally everything! You’ll strip away years of built-up dirt and grime in a flash. Making everything seem cleaner, fresher and well maintained will affect the perceived value of your property.
4. PAINT
Paint is one of my favorite ways to instantly add value to any home. Dated colour schemes can make your home look tired. Opt for a neutral colour pallet with tones that won’t date for a good few years and are complimentary to the surrounding houses in your area. By bringing your homes colour scheme into the 21st century, you’ll see fantastic return on investment when selling or revaluing. Opt for strong, modern colours that will stand the test of time. Contrasting colour tones are important to create depth against your external walls, trims and architraves.
5. RENDER
Nothing transforms an ugly red, brown or blonde brick 70’s home faster than cement render. It’s one of my favourite ways to radically change the appearance of your façade with the return on investment often outweighing the cost. There’s a huge array of products on the market now which will save you both time and money when rendering your home by cutting down on the various stages of the process. Just a tip though, ensure the rendered finish is as smooth as a babies you know what. This way, painting and maintaining the new fresh look will be much easier and not so quick to date.
see all the before and after images from this project here
6. ADD FRET WORK & FINIALS
A great way to add instant value to any façade is to add what I call, ‘Bulk & Scale”.This essentially relies on you adding various decorative elements to your exterior that “beef up” its appearance to make it look of better quality. If your home is in, or is surrounded by older style homes, you have the option of adding decorative fret work and finials to your property for some old world charm. Before you go crazy adding everything you can get your hands on, stand across the road and have a good look at both your property and those surrounding. What you’ll notice is a definite style that your area has adopted or a period feature which is common in properties near yours. After establishing what you want to add, shop around as the price will vary greatly depending on where you buy and what materials are used.
see all the before and after images from this project here
7. PAVING PAINT
Drab paths, driveways and old backyard cement can be saved with a quick coat of paving paint that makes them look new again. Paving paint is available from good hardware stores and is within the skill level of almost anyone. Select a colour which complements your interior pallet to ensure you gain that coveted indoor/outdoor living area look.
8. ADD BLING
So you’ve removed all the dirt and reigned in the rebellious weeds. Now, it’s time to add some fun back into your facade! Install a decorative feature light by your front door that’s in keeping with the style of your home. Add bold outdoor furniture to your front porch or a ceramic urn in a strategic focal point by your front door. For an added splash of colour, dress up the area with cushions and throw rugs – just make sure they’re stored away safely when the clouds creep in. This is an easy and cost effective way to change the look of your home each season without the cost of replacing all the outdoor features. Adding a new set of decorative street numbers and a new letter box is the icing on the cake that completes the whole look.
As you can see, it’s sometimes what’s on the outside (not the inside) which counts. A well maintained property with great street appeal will not only ensure people keep coming back to visit, time after time, but can also add tens of thousands of value back to your home too.
see all the before and after images from this project here
