Green Appeal

Green Appeal

Your house is on the market and you've done everything you should have to make it look good – but don't forget the garden. Emphasising the green appeal can give your home the edge over the competition, so set aside a day or two to spruce it up.

Simon Bradbury, Partner at Fine & Country Cambridgeshire says: “The right garden sells a house, but the wrong one can put people off. Gardens that require a great deal of maintenance, for example, will appeal only to the most green-fingered of house-hunters.”

Bradbury advises against making your garden too ornamental, with statues and ponds, because most people who want outdoor space have young children and therefore green, open spaces are the ideal thing for them to play in.

If your home has only a small patch of greenery, use clever tricks like mirrors and well-tended flower beds to draw the buyers' attention, as long as there is still a reasonable-sized space to sit out in.

Bradbury suggests investing in some bright window boxes and planters to add colour. A planter or a bay tree in a pot on either side of the front door will make the approach to the house welcoming. You can always take pots and containers with you when you leave but make sure the buyer knows if you intend to do so.

Have a good tidy up. Move the bin to where it can't be seen or hide it behind trellis. Put children's bicycles and garden toys away. Make sure lawns and flower beds are trim and weed free and place a table for two in a secluded spot.

Says Bradbury: “If you are trying to appeal to the family market, it may be worth trying to divide the garden off into sections, so that games of football can be played out of sight or at least well away from where the adults want to enjoy a quiet evening with a Pimms.”

Fine & Country Cambridgeshire, 0845 6032825, www.fineandcountry.com