Mulch & plant liriopes or native grass spaced about 300mm apart.

Sub tropical plant combinations · More Info

One more pot on the corner of the front patio with something tall & bushy & a table with two chairs.

Southampton · More Info

Give the house just a good clean or paint Dulux Oyster Linen may go with the brick (get sample pot)??? Freshen up without spending too much but talk to the real estate agent about the demand for your type of house to renovators or first home buyers.

Good Luck

Hampton · More Info

Hi Cottonhoney, think about low maintenance plants such as rosemary and lavender for the garden if you get full sun that only take a quick prune once a year or the classic hydrangea if it's a bit shadier. I'd be inclined to leave the concrete bed in front of the house alone as if you attempt to "disguise it" buys will see right through it - if you do want to add something - add a huge high gloss ceramic pot either side of the stairs and on each corner

To add colour and curb appeal to the house, I'd look into some hanging pots and balcony railing pots - there's not a lot of work in them and they instantly make a home inviting. The other thing that I see that I always think is inviting is curved trellis over the gate with either clementis or jasmine growing over it.

I would definitely be getting the high pressure hose out and make sure that the path and steps show no sign of dirt/mould that build up in those areas. I'd also ensure that the railings and decking are looking great - chipped/peeling/poorly maintained materials in these areas really turn off potential buyers.

Good luck with the sale.

Thanks georgi02. I'll definitely clean the path/steps and paint the exterior. I thought about rendering the steps in the same colour as the exterior walls or floor boards to create a visual flow. I do have some tall brown and cream pots I considered putting tall plants in and lining them up on each side. Thank you for your advice!

Your welcome cottonhoney. I wouldn't render the steps - they're in keeping with the brickwork of the house and leave it to the new owners to decide what they want to do there - if your doing some sprucing to sell the place, the idea is to get the maximum amount of money at sale time for minimal outlay and work now. Put your time, money and effort into what's instantly going to catch buyers eyes (and any inspectors that they commission during the sales process such as building and pest) - think about upgrading the outdoor lights (ensure that they're on when you've got open house inspections in wet/overcast days - it'll give a welcome glow) and that your guttering is in good nick.

Invest in a couple of nice chairs and a small table on the verandah that you'll be happy to take with you (or if you've got friends you can borrow this stuff from all the better or head down to St Vinnies and see what you can get cheap and do up - and don't overlook colourful outdoor cushions) . Making your home look like its lived in and cared for will do a lot for buyers - first impressions arent going to be about the stairs unless they look/feel unsafe - get them to picture their lives in your home - small pops of colour, a building that's well maintained, good smells coming from the kitchen (bake a cake/bread or brew fresh coffee or boil some water with a few slices of orange and a broken up stick of cinnamon for a few hours before the inspections to start to get smells going through your home will bring you just as much bang for buck as rendering.

Wow, thank you so much for your feedback! I understand it's 'minimum spend for the maximum effect' but sometimes I find it hard knowing what those important things are that are going to make an impact. My initial thought was that the entrance is the first impression, but you're right about the stairs. I'm starting to visualize the exterior colours and I definitely need a few nice pieces of furniture and cushions. It will look so good I'll want to stay here ;) Thank you so much for your ideas. Very helpful!