Homes with kerb appeal. View our Reigate homes for sale that make a great first impression

Homes with kerb appeal. Making a good first impression is crucial if you’re selling your home. One in six buyers have said it took them a mere ten seconds to decide if they liked a property – based solely on the exterior and wouldn’t even bother to go inside if they didn’t like what they saw outside.

Homes with kerb appeal are definitely more attractive to potential buyers, so we take a look at ways to spruce up your property on the outside in order to appeal to a wide section of house hunters…

If you’re not concerned about the one in six buyers who won’t go inside a house that lacks kerb appeal, how about this: a third make their decision on whether to buy based on a property’s exterior and a staggering half said they would reduce their offer by up to 20% if they didn’t like what they saw outside. Homes with kerb appeal win!

Right: Blackborough Road, Reigate, RH2
A substantial bay-fronted Victorian semi-detached home offering 2,652 sq ft of excellent family accommodation arranged over four floors. Guide price £950,000.


The statistics from Barclays Mortgages show how important it can be to whet your buyers’ appetite from the second they get out of their car or walk towards your home. Your flaking paint work may be doing more damage than you think to your prospects of selling your home.

So, how can you ensure your home is seen in its best light by potential purchasers?

View it from a different perspective
Do you come home, head down, searching for your keys in your pocket or bag? It may have been some time since you stood outside your home and really looked at the condition of the brickwork, paint work, windows or planting.

Left: Chartfield Road, Reigate, RH2
This tastefully presented property has been extended and converted to provide excellent family accommodation arranged over three floors. Guide price £685,000.


Go outside and simply turn around. Take a note book with you and take a few minutes to scrutinise the exterior of your home.

Are there cracks in window glass? Do your gutters need clearing? How about the glass above your front door; could it do with a clean? Those planters that you prepared in June – are they past their best?

First impressions count                   
Taking time to see your home in the way a potential buyer will see it can be the difference between a positive first impression and a negative experience that taints the entire viewing.

Get out your paint brush
Unless there are serious structural issues, and as long as you’ve maintained the fabric of your home, improving your curb appeal needn’t take lots of time or money. A lick of paint on windowsills, a new layer of gloss on the front door or a deep clean of your beautiful Victorian tiles takes more elbow grease than cold hard cash. Set aside some time over a couple of weekends and plan what needs to be done. You’ll have your home looking tip top in no time.

Right: Warren Road, Reigate, RH2
This truly elegant Victorian residence still retains many character features synonymous of its era which include ornate coving, picture rails, sash windows, stripped wood floors, stained glass and cast-iron fireplaces.  With accommodation arranged over four floors this lovely home offers flexible living space ideal for modern day requirements. Fixed price £1,000,000.


Spruce up your garden                              
What may have looked marvellous in June can look overgrown in October. If your planting needs some attention, take a trip to your local garden centre and have a quick look at what will be blooming over the coming months. Spend a little on a few plants and you can transform the exterior of your home, making it look instantly more welcoming.

Make sure lawns are manicured, gates are painted and pathways are free of debris.

No-nos
The biggest turn off for potential buyers was the visibility of vermin control! If you do have some resident mice be sure to remove any traces of your tactical measures before you have a viewing booked.

Left: Royal Hill Park, Redhill, RH1
The Rowling is an impressive designed four bedroom home featuring a separate kitchen and dining room boasting double doors to the rear garden. The impressive master bedroom is on the first floor and benefits from an en-suite, dressing room and access to a terrace there is also another further en-suite bedroom. The second floor has two further double bedrooms with a shared family bathroom. Guide price £885,000.

Ask for advice

Before your market your home, ask a local agent to pop over to give you an objective opinion on your property’s curb appeal. A good local agent will be happy to help, even if it doesn’t result in an instruction for them.

Agents will be able to immediately see if you’ll need to make any more preparations before selling your home. They have so much experience in preparing homes for market – and also in what their clients are looking for – so are in a great position to help you.

Photography
Once you’ve ensured that you’ve improved your home’s curb appeal it’s time to call in an estate agent to value and market your home. After all of that work it would be a great shame to market your home with sub standard photography, so choose wisely.

Have a look at the agent’s current properties for sale on their website and ask to see some example brochures. Is the photography excellent? Is the lighting good? Have they managed to capture the essence of a home?

Take some time to assess you home with an objective eye, take advice on work that needs to be completed and you’ll be ready for viewings in no time.

Homes with kerb appeal. View our Reigate homes that make a great first impression and contact our Reigate office for advice on selling your home: 01737 222027, reigate@jackson-stops.co.uk.