Kerbside appeal - sounds lovely doesn't it?  It conjures up all sorts of warm images that you really want your prospective purchaser or tenant to have about your property.  We all remember, from various TV programmes, their suggestions of how to make someone have that warm and cosy feel about your home - consider baking bread or a putting a pot of coffee on so the smell emanates through all the rooms.  But what about the gardens, what about kerbside appeal and what about a wonderful view from the lounge, kitchen or dining room window?

How many times have you heard friends or relatives saying they went out looking for a new house and did a 'drive by' (viewing that is, not shooting!!)?   Nothing says 'first impressions count' more than this for the initial view of your home.  Here are a few things you can do to enhance that kerbside appeal and the view from inside your home over the rear garden:

• Weed the driveway, around the garage and near fences
• Weed the borders
• Prune the shrubs
• Remove any dead foliage and dead head if it's the flowering season
• Think hedges and edges – clip your hedge and redefine your lawn edges
• Mow the lawn
• If you've got climbers growing up the walls ensure that any wispy growth is gently tied in and ensure all views from windows are unrestricted
• Rake up leaves in the autumn
• Depending on the season lightly fork over or dig the borders to make them look fresh or simply cover with a mulch
• Buy a few plants to fill any gaps that appear as you clear borders and prune existing shrubs
• Brush and/or pressure wash your paths and driveways as required
• If fences are looking unloved treat them with a coat of fence stain
• Finally, place decorative pots either side of the door or along the pathway with a splash of seasonal colour to welcome your prospective buyers – you can always take them with you when you move!

Of course all of this takes time and money especially if you're buying new plants so why not start to gradually address some of the points above.  When your estate agent comes to do the survey and take photographs you’ll want them to be able to capture your home and garden in its best light.

If you're thinking of renting your home the same points above still apply but it is understandable that you may be concerned about what state the gardens could become if the new tenant doesn't like gardening or really know what they are doing.  Those precious and expensive plants you've bought or nurtured could be pruned incorrectly, may die or be left to their own devices and eventually smother out other plants.  Changing the plants and introducing those that require less maintenance so they will pretty much get on with life with little intervention from humans is a good idea.  Or, why not consider having a gardener come in and look after your garden on a regular basis?  It could be a real selling point; after all it is a tough market out there so giving a busy tenant one less job to do might help and above all you would know that your garden was being looked after.  

Here at Blue Daisy we help customers get their gardens ready for when they put their homes on the market, we maintain gardens so tenants don't have to get involved, we advise how to make the garden more of a low maintenance space and we help customers understand the potential of their newly bought garden.

So if this has whetted your appetite contact us at Blue Daisy - we might be able to help.