What to do now to help your home sell..

It’s officially summer. Well, as summer as it gets, maybe! At time of writing the sun is shining, but this is Manchester, so at time of reading it may well be a deluge worthy of building an ark for.

However, as we said, it is summer and with the onset of warmer weather, as well as at last switching the heating off completely, we start to think about how we can spend more time outdoors – and for house hunters the garden becomes a space to investigate a little more thoroughly than they might in a chilly spring.

So, what can you do to ensure your outdoor space is as tempting as your indoor space?

1. Give all the patio and/or decking spaces a good clean down. Rent, borrow or buy a jet wash and discover the joy of making stripes on flags you didn’t realise were quite so grubby. Sadly, unlike a lawn, you can’t leave the stripes there, you need to complete the job. Beware, it’s mucky and wet and cold, but ultimately truly satisfying,
2. Wash all the garden furniture. Plastic or metal can be washed down with warm water and washing up liquid and just left to dry. Wooden furniture you can also wash with warm water and washing up liquid, making sure it’s properly rinsed afterwards, but there are some extra steps to take to ensure it looks great and remains safe and long lasting. Once it’s clean, have a good look at every piece – use a fine sandpaper to smooth away any splinters and remove any stains the washing hasn’t cleared. Once it’s dry, dab distilled vinegar on any green spots where mildew has got into the wood. It should clean it away, or at least prevent spread. 
3. Set up the furniture in the place where you use it. Every day you have viewings, put out cushions – as brightly coloured as you can find. They don’t need to be expensive outdoor cushions, once the viewing is over (or your evening al fresco is done) tidy them away indoors to keep them dry.
4. Edge the borders to create a sharp line between lawn and soil. 
5. Keep the grass trimmed – but not too short. Luscious green grass has a visual appeal that suggests fun afternoons on the lawn. You can also get a decent stripe going if you lift the blades on the mower a little higher, and it’s much better for grass to be left a little longer in dry weather. Plus, bonus, there are fewer trips to the green waste bin to be made!
6. If your borders are a little sparse on the flower front, don’t worry, nip to the local garden centre, pick up a few pots with colourful blooms and pop them in the borders. If you resent the idea of making the investment for the new owners, you could leave them in their pots – just remember you need to water them every day and feed once a week. It’s a little deceitful, however, so we recommend you invest in some planted patio pots and dot these around instead – these are clearly then part of your garden furniture and will be leaving with you when you sell.
7. If you have children’s garden toys, before a viewing artfully arrange these in a restricted space. Footballs and rockers and trikes scattered about are outdoor clutter and will distract from the good things your garden has to offer.
8. On a similar vein, wash down any swing sets you have out and clean up your trampoline or goal posts, including tightening any sagging netting. If your children have outgrown these, and they’re looking the worse for wear, it’s time to get rid, Post them up on your local Freecycle or Facebook groups. Large items such as this can actually help you in your sale, as people can see what lifestyle their children might have here, but as with your indoor rooms, you need to take a few moments to present them in their best light. A sad, sagging football net, or a drooping basketball hoop sends the wrong kind of message.
9. Finally, clean out your firepit or barbecue and set it close by your dining area – who doesn’t dream of long summer evenings in the garden with friends? You can be sure your potential buyers do.

Eddie – Friday 26th May 2023 (Picture used from Mount Grove, Gatley).