In my last article, I spoke about the importance of a good “Curb Appeal” when selling a property. Curb appeal is what your house looks like from the street. It is your home’s first impression to any visitor or potential buyer. We discussed a few ways that a Seller can easily improve the property’s curb appeal.
Today we will look at the property inside of the wall. You come through your front gate, and what do you see? This is the second impression of your home. Is the second impression something that reinforces the first impression? Is the garden and the outside of the home similar in quality and condition to the outside of the property? The great first impression that you have strived to achieve can be completely destroyed by a terrible second impression.
What will a potential Purchaser be looking at when they come through your front gate? The first thing they are likely to see is the driveway. Is it neat and in good shape? Is the driveway made of concrete, bricks, or paving bricks or is it a dirt driveway? Are the boundaries of the driveway clearly defined? Is the driveway easy to use and to turn around in? A neat driveway will always boost the value of a home.
Next your visitor is likely to see the garden. Is your yard neat, clean, and free of litter and clutter? Is the garden developed and well cared for? Bulawayo has many properties without sufficient water for gardening or without working boreholes. If you don’t have a borehole, you can spend time planting a “dry garden”. A dry garden is one that doesn't rely on rainwater and irrigation to survive. Instead, plants are chosen for their drought-tolerance. Use succulents, cactus, and ground cover to create a living green space, that doesn’t require much water.
If you have a borehole, you will have more versatility in the type of garden you may have. A well developed, green, flowering garden is a huge plus when selling your house. Many people looking to buy a property are also attracted by fruit trees, and producing orchards.
Next the potential Purchaser will see the outside of the house, and any outbuildings that you have. They will very quickly notice whether or not the property has been maintained. One of the biggest issues that I have had as a Real Estate agent, when dealing with a new Seller, is that they run around and do all of the maintenance on the house, just before selling. Firstly, it often shows that the house has been fixed up. This can create suspicion in the Buyer’s mind. They may be saying to themselves, “Why is there new paint everywhere? What is the Seller trying to cover up and hide?” Secondly, the Seller generally wants to recoup all of the expenses that they have outlaid. They should have been spending time, effort, and money through the years maintaining the property. When you do all the upkeep at one time, the money spent can be substantial. There is a tendency to increase the selling price to cover this expense. Sometimes this extra money can push the property out of the correct Selling price.
Work on your home’s first and second impression. Do regular maintenance on the property. Develop a great garden, which is suitable for your home. Be sure that your property is free from clutter, litter, and trash. See what you can do to improve the look of your property. These simple steps are very likely to increase your home’s value, making it easier to achieve the selling price you are looking for.
By Jonathan Thompson
Copyright Thompson Properties. All rights reserved
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