We have now officially made it into summer – although looking outside you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
Still, the summer months do generally bring about better weather and more excuses to be out and about in the garden.
For this reason, sellers should place a great deal of emphasis on any outdoor space their property possesses when it comes to selling in summer. For certain demographics, it could be a deal-breaker.
Below, using our experience as a leading estate agent in Wellingborough, we look at how sellers can use the garden as a major part of their sales pitch.
Oh sit down...
When summer strikes, people spend more time outside – whether it's for family BBQs, informal drinks or dinner parties with friends.
Whatever it might be, buyers will want to know they can entertain their guests in comfort. Seating is a massive part of that.
Comfy, stylish chairs can be purchased for reasonable prices – if you shop around a bit - while cushions, throws and footrests can all help to create a classy, stripped-back vibe (something young professionals, in particular, would appreciate).
Table time
Dining al-fresco becomes a more popular pastime when the sun is shining. As such, it's important that your home possesses a high-quality outside table and chairs (i.e. nothing cheap and plastic-looking) to make eating in the sunshine more appealing.
If you don't already have an outside table in place, it might be worth your while investing in one.
Again, if you shop around a bit, good-quality tables can be bought for prices that won't shatter your bank balance.
Colour, colour, colour
Getting the colour scheme of your garden right can really help it to stand out from the crowd. You might not think so, but buyers can notice when the colours of a garden don't complement each other very well.
It might be quite a minor thing to get right, but that doesn't mean it should be completely ignored. Earthy colours – dark greens, browns, greys and ochres – are recommended, while getting the lighting right (think flameless candles and lanterns) will help to show off your garden's best attributes.
Presentation is key
Of course, more than anything, your garden needs to look the business. A garden that is shabby, overgrowing and poorly maintained will have no appeal whatsoever to buyers; by contrast, a bright, tidy, well-kept space could really help to tip the balance.
Especially so for families with young children and socially active young professionals, who are likely to make use of garden space more than any other demographics.
Make your garden look as attractive as possible and then show it off to would-be buyers when they come to view. If your estate agent carries out the viewing on your behalf, get them to point out the garden's central features and any other unique selling points it has.
Trendy fireplaces
It's probably the case that most properties won't include an outdoor fireplace. But if yours does, make sure to show it off to the max – outdoor fireplaces are one of the trendiest things about at the minute, up there with hipster beards and pulled pork.
For those who fancy themselves as chefs, it could make or break the deal. With this in mind, it would be wise to focus your garden around this centrepiece feature if you are lucky enough to have one.
For more information about how we can help to get your property sold, please get in contact with Hawksbys on 01933 224 444.
If you would like to know how much your property could be worth in the current marketplace, check out our free property valuation tool
