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How to increase your property's kerb appeal
In this month's edition, we're offering our top tips to help you to increase your property's charm from the outside, also known as its kerb appeal.
There's also news on expected growth in housing prices for significant parts of the country, the mortgage market has gotten off to a surprisingly strong start this calendar year and finally, if you're looking to spruce up your garden in time for Summer, why not read our suggestions?
How to increase your property's kerb appeal
Any estate agent will tell you that making a good first impression is key when presenting your home for sale. Potential buyers and renters are always extra vigilant when it comes to viewing properties, from the front gate to the back garden, meaning it’s even more important to present your home in its best light from the off. But even if you’re not looking to sell up, there’s something to be said for sprucing up the front of your home.
One of the best ways to do that is to maximise your kerb appeal, which refers to how striking your home is when viewed from the road. When you think about searching for properties online, how likely are you to click on details for a home if the lead photograph is rather drab? The homes that perform the best on property websites like Zoopla and Rightmove are the ones that can grab the attention from the off.
Thankfully, maximising your kerb appeal doesn’t have to break the bank!
1) Front and centre
The front door is always a good place to start, especially as it’s one of the first things that people see when it comes to your home. UPVC doors can be cleaned easily enough with the right product, and if you've got a wooden door, why not consider a fresh lick of paint? You can also bring your garage or front gate into the equation for a bit of colourful synchronicity.
Giving your letterboxes and door handles a polish shows good attention to detail, but if they’re looking a little tired, don’t be afraid to replace them.
2) Plot your path to success
The path to your front door or outdoor paving stones can get dirty with ease, so applying some TLC, whether that’s with a pressure washer or a good ol’ bucket of warm water and a scrubbing implement will instantly help your outside space.
If you have paving stones, then keeping your weeds in check is also a shrewd move; pulling out the week killer for large front porches, paths or driveways will make things look far neater.
Gravel is a feature of many a home, and it’s also one that’s easily refreshed with a bit of colour. Locate some similar stones to your current palette and use a rake to spread them together and you’ll be surprised by how much it refreshes the approach to your front door.
3) Plant an impression
A simple touch, but an effective one. Adding some greenery around your front door suggests to the naked eye that you take care of your property and look after your home, so look into some potted plants to go outside your front door. Hanging baskets are another option if ground space is limited.
4) Window dressing
The windows on your front room are another area where little touches can make a big difference. Have a look into replacing your curtains or blinds with lined alternatives for a tidy appearance, or, if your windows aren’t providing you with sufficient insulation, you could even look at replacing them altogether.
5) Night Lights
Finally, take a look at the area around your front door at night and imagine how much more welcoming it could be with a bit of light. An outdoor power supply will help if you’re looking to install something akin to a classic-style lamp, but you needn’t go overboard; a solar-powered light is easy to install, charges itself during the day and won’t cost you extra!
Growth predicted for significant pockets of the United Kingdom
Significant sections of the United Kingdom can expect to see an increase in house prices after a strong performance in the year to January 2019. The average price increase for the entire country was 1.7%, with Wales leading the way with a rise of 4.6% closely followed by the Midlands at 4.4%.
Unfortunately, not all regions will be feeling the benefit, with London suffering a 1.6% drop in the same period and the East of England looking at a more reasonable yet still frustrating 0.2% drop. This isn’t out of step with the Bank of England’s inflation report, however; the capital has been subject to tax changes alongside an increase of regulations which have taken their toll.
Elsewhere, mortgage approvals have continued to enjoy a rise with 66,800 accepted in January, up over 1000 from the previous six months’ average of 65,500.
This increased activity is all the more impressive considering that the BoE’s report suggested that property market activity had been muted, with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ residential market survey also alluding to subdued enquiries, new instructions and sales.
“While buyers can currently expect to purchase at a reduced price in London, the opposite can be said for the rest of the UK with continued growth across the majority of regions, suggesting there are plenty of investment opportunities elsewhere. The Midlands, in particular, stands out as a region for investment, with house prices growing by around 4%. Amongst the headlines of falling house prices, it’s therefore important not to overlook the fact that significant pockets of the UK continued to be poised for growth.”
Mortgage market gets off to strong start in 2019
With almost 67,000 mortgages approved in January, 2019 has started strongly for the property market. Despite fears for the housing market this year, this represents an increase in activity from the end of 2018, showing that 2019 could surprise many when it comes to the upward trend in property.
“January’s rise in mortgage approvals is at odds with recent data and surveys which had suggested that Brexit and economic uncertainty could be having a dampening effect on housing market activity,” said Howard Archer, chief economic advisor to the EY Item Club.
The surprise seen amongst analysts indicates that the upsurge in activity is unexpected, but there are several factors that are contributing to the market’s current health. A major contributor is, of course, low interest rates in the market, which have supported purchasers and given the lending industry much confidence. Many current property owners have used these historically low levels in order to refinance their loans and find a better deal.
The emergence of first-time buyers as one of the major forces in the property market is another contributing feature to this unexpected upsurge, as well as the increase in mortgage applications, as for the first time since 1995 first-time buyer mortgages made up over half of mortgages approved in 2018.
The strength of the first-time buyer market in 2019 can be seen in the 25,000 mortgages taken out in the first month of 2019 by first-time buyers, according to banking trade body UK Finance. A total of 33,621 mortgages were approved to purchase a home last month, according to data from UK Finance which represents high street banks and building societies. This also represents an increase when compared to February 2018 of 1.8% - which is fairly significant considering the march towards Brexit was firmly taking place through February.
With summer firmly established as the most popular time to buy and sell, we are moving into a particularly busy time of the year for property and therefore, this resurgent health of the market should continue for the foreseeable future.
Top tips to prepare your garden for Summertime
We all love that summer pleasure of sitting outside and enjoying the feeling of the sunshine on our skin, yet despite this melanin-inducing activity being a firm favourite, many of us shy away from gardening. Here are a few tips to help revitalise your garden or outdoor space, just in time for the summer!
The right grounding
Before you go out and start purchasing new flowers and shrubs to zhoosh up your garden, it is important to have an idea of the soil that you will be planting in. Different plants will thrive in different environments, and the consistency of your soil will be a key player in this; is your soil light and sandy or heavier with elements of clay? This, as well as the amount of light which the new plants will receive, should be kept in mind before you go and make any expensive purchases.
Put the ‘plan’ in ‘plant’
That old adage of “fail to plan and plan to fail” exists for a reason; it rings true amongst many of us. The same is applicable for when you are upgrading your garden – planning on how you are going to use the space will mean that you maximise your outdoor area. Decide what you are going to use the space for and segment it appropriately; eating areas, planting areas and water features all make a garden more pleasant; however, if there is not enough room between each then the space becomes overcrowded and less appealing.
The perfect lawn
When we think of the quintessential British garden, we immediately think of a lush and healthy grassy area. If you’re yearning for a luscious lawn, then ensure that you water your green areas regularly – the optimum time to water the area is between 4am and 8am. If we are lucky enough to have another hot summer like last year, then remember that any temperature above 30 degrees will stunt growth and temperatures from 26 degrees onwards will not benefit your lawn – therefore keep the grass a little longer which will prevent the soil from drying out.
Sitting areas
One of the easiest ways to spend a little more time in your garden is to create an outdoor sitting space; from simply installing a table and chairs, to installing a full decking area this can transform your outdoor space. If you already have a suitable surface such as paving or decking then purchasing a table and chairs will be an inexpensive way to create outdoor living space, but don’t despair if you need to spend a little more to create suitable grounding for your table. Buying stones or pebbles and some tarpaulin to lay them upon is a very cost-effective manner to provide a nice zone for seating – look in your local supermarkets as well as the DIY stores as they often provide better value for money during seasonal offers.
A shed load of storage!
If you’re looking to make the most of your garden this spring and summer, then a shed might seem like it should be the last item on your list of priorities. However, a shed can offer valuable storage and organisation to your garden that will encourage you to make the most of the space; having your gardening tools easy to access and your outdoor supplies organised will make your outdoor living much easier. In addition to this, a shed can be a beautiful piece of garden architecture; go bold on the colour and choose pastels such as blue or pink for that country cottage kind of chic that looks wonderful in all types of garden. In addition, adding some stylish bunting to the shed will enhance the overall aesthetic, and can be extended to other parts of your garden to create a more cohesive look.
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