DON’T FORGET THE GARDEN

Last week saw people from all over the world flock to the Chelsea Flower Show, which has been held at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea since 1912, a longevity which is testament to Britons’ love of their gardens, writes Clive Hedges.  Congratulations to Norfolk’s Peter Beales Roses, which won their 30^th gold medal at the show.

As summer approaches, we shouldn’t underestimate the importance of gardens when it comes to selling a home.  They have always been important of course, but people’s appreciation of their outside space certainly increased when everyone was confined to their homes during the Covid pandemic.

Which is why staging your garden is every bit as vital as preparing the interior of your home for viewings.  You need to help your potential buyers visualise themselves living in your home, and that includes helping them to imagine relaxing in the garden.

There are of course some basic measures you need to take.  Make sure you have cut the lawn, trimmed the edges and weeded the flowerbeds; you wouldn’t conduct a viewing without vacuuming and dusting indoors, and the same level of housekeeping needs to be undertaken outside as well. 

Get out the pressure washer and clean the patio, and clear up any fallen leaves.  Repair any broken fences, and touch up wood stain or paint where necessary.  And make sure you have picked up any ‘evidence’ of your pet! 

Consider planting some flowers to give your garden some colour; this needn’t be expensive, and can pay dividends.

Helping your buyers see themselves living in your outside space is about a bit more than simple tidying-up, important though that is.  It doesn’t take much to transform their view from a neat and tidy garden to an outside space which will fit in with their lifestyle.

So make sure your patio furniture is set out, with cushions on the chairs and maybe some drinks on the table.  Studies show that dining al fresco is what many people aspire to as soon as the weather turns warmer, so be ready to demonstrate what an attractive prospect that could be for them.

You are trying to show what a wonderful life your prospective purchasers could have in your garden; you obviously can’t guarantee the weather on the day of the viewing, but you can suggest to them what a relaxing time they will have when the sun does come out.