When it comes to selling your home, first impressions matter. Potential buyers often form opinions within seconds of seeing your property, and the exterior, including the garden, plays an important role in this process. A well-maintained and thoughtfully designed garden can enhance your home’s kerb appeal and influence a buyer’s decision. Here are some tips to help you prepare your garden for a successful house sale:
1. Clean and Declutter: Begin by tidying up your outside space. Remove any debris, dead plants, or clutter that might be detracting from its appeal. Clean the front door and door furniture and make sure the doorbell works. Trim overgrown bushes and trees and clear out any weeds. A neat and well-maintained garden immediately signals to potential buyers that the property has been cared for and is worth their attention.
2. Focus on the Front Garden: The front garden is the first thing potential buyers see, so it’s essential to make it inviting and attractive. Make sure the lawn is mown and think about adding planted pots with colourful flowers as a welcoming focus on the front doorstep.
3. Address Structural Issues: Before putting your house on the market, address any structural issues or safety concerns in the garden. Repair broken fences, pathways, or retaining walls, and ensure that all structures are stable and secure. Buyers will appreciate knowing that they won’t have to deal with costly repairs after purchasing the property.
4. Define Outdoor Spaces: Like you would indoors, make it easy for potential buyers to see how the spaces can be used. Set up any seating areas and style them if possible for photos and/or viewings so buyers can see how they might relax and entertain in your garden. Pots with seasonal bedding are a great way to add colour and scent in strategic positions, especially around seating areas.
5. Seek Professional Help if Needed: If you’re unsure about how to best prepare your garden for sale, don’t hesitate to get in touch. An hour with me in your garden could help to prioritise actions and pinpoint key tasks. An objective eye can be very helpful in clarifying what needs to be done to make sure your garden helps to sell your house. Remember, a well-maintained garden not only adds value to your home but also creates a welcoming atmosphere that resonates with buyers seeking their dream property.
A Garden Hoedown is what I called my Garden Consultation Service, purely because ‘Garden Consultation’ sounds so boring! Someone once called it Garden Therapy as they were feeling so stressed and overwhelmed by their garden and not enjoying it all! Others have found it really helpful at different times:
– perhaps you’ve recently moved in and are overwhelmed by the garden you’ve inherited
– you’re about to put your house on the market and want it to make a good impression
– you’ve just built an extension and can now see your garden more
– or perhaps you’ve spent the last 18 months using it more and you have a niggly feeling it could be working better for all the family!
The Covid Lockdowns have made us look at our outdoor spaces in a different way. Being in our gardens has made us re-think and re-prioritise all sorts of things as our gardens have given different meanings for all members of the family. You might have gained a puppy, or be working from home more. You might want to entertain outside more often and for a longer part of the year, or you might want to continue to the quiet and solace your garden brought you.
A Hoedown might be for you if you don’t need a full garden design but want input from a professional garden designer, gardener and prolific garden user! Here’s how it works:
Here’s what Claire had to say following our Hoedown:
“I spent a lovely hour in my back garden with Renée having a Hoedown. She is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I feel very inspired now and, most importantly, confident that I can change my garden to suit my family. Renée listened to what I hoped to achieve and asked all the right questions. I can’t wait to get started and thanks to Renée’s follow-up email with links and reminders of what we talked about it didn’t matter that I forgot most of the plant names we talked about! Thank you”
In your garden for an hour! I bring my secateurs, a blank pad of paper, pens and my trowel
I send you a Summary report afterwards – including any sketch ideas and links to inspiration, suppliers, contractors, or plants
COST: £150 within a 5-mile radius of Redhill paid upfront to secure the meeting (I’m more than happy to travel further afield but will need to factor in travel time and costs)
You can also buy a Hoedown Voucher for a loved one who is not enjoying their garden. So if you know someone who you think could do with some Garden Therapy.
Buy your Voucher here and I will be in touch for the wording and contact details.
What would you want us to spend our hour discussing? Let me know in the comments below!
A Hoedown is what I called my Garden Consultation Service, purely because ‘Garden Consultation’ sounds so boring!
Someone called it Garden Therapy as they were feeling so stressed and overwhelmed by their garden and not enjoying it all! Others have found it really helpful at different times:
perhaps you’ve recently moved in and are overwhelmed by the garden you’ve inherited
you’re about to put your house on the market and want it to make a good impression
you’ve just built an extension and can now see your garden more
or perhaps you’ve spent the last 18 months using it more and you have a niggly feeling it could be working better for all the family!
This last few years have changed everything. With the onset of Covid and the various lockdowns we’ve found ourselves in since March 2020, being outdoors and in our gardens has made us re-think and re-prioritise all sorts of things as our gardens have become safe havens for all the family. Working throughout lockdown has meant I’ve had to be creative so I now have 2 offerings if you’re looking for some input into your garden:
Face to Face Hoedown
In your garden WITH a cuppa for an hour!
In your garden with payment upfront by BACS
Summary report sent afterwards so you don’t have to take any notes – including any sketch ideas and links to inspiration, suppliers, contractors, or plants
COST: £125 within a 5-mile radius of Redhill (I’m more than happy to travel further afield but will need to factor in travel time and costs)
Virtual Hoedown
Phone conversation to confirm priority areas (I’d suggest that design, layout, planting ideas work best this way)
Photos and video sent of the space before our meeting with guidance from me of best angles etc
Payment upfront by BACS
1-hour virtual meeting held at an agreed time from your home WITH a cuppa for an hour over Zoom
Summary report sent afterwards so you don’t have to take any notes – including any sketch ideas and links to inspiration, suppliers, contractors, or plants
Here’s what Claire had to say following our Hoedown:
“I spent a lovely hour in my back garden with Renée having a Hoedown. She is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I feel very inspired now and, most importantly, confident that I can change my garden to suit my family. Renée listened to what I hoped to achieve and asked all the right questions. I can’t wait to get started and thanks to Renée’s follow-up email with links and reminders of what we talked about it didn’t matter that I forgot most of the plant names we talked about! Thank you.”
Renee’s head and shoulders
What would you want us to spend our hour discussing? Let me know in the comments below!
