Six Ways To Get That Street Appeal
Street appeal is something that every homeowner starts to think about AFTER they’ve decided to sell. When that’s the case, it can be too little, too late… or, way too much, too fast! We’re going to look at some ways you can get on top of this situation to make your place stand out from the rest on your street and even if you’re not thinking of selling right now, you’ll thank yourself for it later (or sooner?)!
Let’s do this…
1. Defined Access to the House
Make that pathway stand out! Yes, a little bit of street appeal can be as easy as defining the edges of your path, adding some lighting (solar is a simple, inexpensive-to-run option?). Choose your standout or blend-in surface: Pavers, concrete, gravel, stone, timber, etc. The options here are endless.
2. Driveway: Functional and Discreet
Your driveway doesn’t have to be this mass of grey concrete, or even a sea of pavers. You can keep your grassed look and just run a hard surface for the tyre tracks. Or, go for some exposed aggregate, timber sleepers, or bluestone pavers. Bluestone is a form of sandstone used to create extremely elegant looking driveways.
3. Looooow Maintenance
No, not your partner, the garden! This one should be a no-brainer because it makes it easier for you to look after now, and makes a great selling point! The problem being, as soon as you say, “low maintenance” most people instantly picture a sea of concrete or ugly looking pavers. It doesn’t have to be this way! There are so many ways to create a great looking, low-maintenance landscape. One of the best ways is to use variety. Don’t overdo one thing. Keep it simple and direct attention around the garden like a visual join-the-dots.
4. Seasonal Changes
Now look, there’s no point having this amazing looking garden in winter and then everything dies in summer, or vice versa. You can potentially end up with beautiful colours one season and everything looking dead and drab the next! Be careful in your choice and watch your garden change over the seasons making adjustments as needed.
5. Getting the Edge!
Edges make the world look better. More defined. When there are edges we know where to walk, where we shouldn’t walk, where to give our attention, and where not to bother looking. Edges give subtle clarity to a world of chaos. When you’re walking your neighbourhood the next time, take note of the front yards that catch your eye and what specifically it is about them that has drawn you in. I’ll almost guarantee, it’ll be edges and defined lines.
6. Water Wise Gardens
A watering system with an automatic timer is the way to go and doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’re up for simplicity, just start with a timer that attaches to the tap, a roll of poly tubing, pegs to secure it into the ground, and some dripper attachments. Drip or bubbler attachments are preferable to a spray set up when you’re keeping it simple, as they direct the water right where it is needed and less water is wasted.
Well, hopefully that’s given you something to think about and keep your weekends busy in your quest for street appeal. You’ll be telling the real estate agent, “Our neighbours often stop and admire the garden and tell us how great it looks”.
As always, sing out if you need anything from friendly advice to a complete landscape transformation!
