I call it my first impressions make over.
1. Rip out all old plants and ugly trees
2. Install box hedges (people love them)
3. Repair cracks on concrete paths and paint over with non slip paint.
4. Repair all defects seen from the street, gutters, tiles, paint windows etc etc
5. New letter box and front fence
any more ??
D
* New front door
* Re-paint roof (if needed)
* Re-paint gutters and facia (if needed)
* Render (if that is your cup of tea)
* Turf the front yardOzi
I like to do mulching and edging this makes a big difference to the look of a place [biggrin]
Jenny1
Looks like Jenny1 likes to mulch and do edging !!
Clean or paint front door and replace entry set.
Sadly for us in SE Qld a garden is not possible due to water restrictions so if you do plant a garden make it low maintenance and drought hardy.
Make sure the house number is visable and/or replace.Amanda
“It is better to be inconspicuously wealthy, than to be ostentatiously poor…”Some great ideas there!!! We were umming and aahhhing whether or not to paint the concrete, oil stained driveway but think we wil do it…Love the idea re planter boxes too, they look great
Sorry about the repeat before it was the computer not me[blush2]
I have had great success at first taping the driveway into an easy pattern and then using paving paint to paint over 2 coats and then lift tape off it looks like stenciled concrete. Hard wearing also.
Jenny1
Mowing the lawn seems to be missing, simple but it amazes me how many properties are for sale with long grass.
CATA
Asset Protection Specialist
[email protected]what r everyone’s thoughts on front fences??? we have a waist high, steel mesh type fence that looks like the old housing trust style front fencing but it has wooden log poles every few metres….its probably more practical than pretty but not sure if we get rid of it that people may miss having a barrier between the road and the house..it also has waist high gates that cover the driveway entrance (its not a main road, just a normal back street so small traffic flow)
Cheers
Tim
Hi Tim the front fence is the most visible from driveby inspections so have a look at the rest of the street and becomecreative.
you don’t need to spendmillions to get the desired effect, sobecreative.
OK i’ll add in curb side appeal such as regrassing the curb or installing 2 new schrubs etc
D
I read a renovating book ages ago, but from memory it made a big deal about changing the light at the front porch – apparently this makes a great first impression without much outlay.
Depending on how fast you want it, planting fast growing creepers such as star jasmine will cover your chain mesh fence pretty quick and looks really great. Also Lillypilly are very fast growing and can be clipped into a square hedge just behind the fence looks really good. Should get quite good coverage with one Spring.
Lots awaters the trickFern
Very good ideas
Replace the letter box
Put large numbers on the house at least 150mm high
In drought conditions use lots of mulch and redirect the water from basins and sinks to water them – why put it down the drain when it acts likes rain.
Trim large trees to let in more light
How about window boxes at the front
D
In addition to the front yard, letter box and a fence I’m always installing a new RE-E-E-E-EALY GOOD IMPORTED TIMBER DOOR AND A COOL LOCK!!!! It’s the must!!!
You enter through the door and you must touch it – do you like it or not! It sits in your subconsciousness. It’s like high hill shoes for the women, if you know what I mean. You can have the bad hair day and not the best make up and the old outfit, but shoes will make you look for a 1,000,000!
Are you in Sydney?
I can dive you a reference for a good place I’m shopping in – they have range from $180 to few thousands – but even the chip one are the real thing!!!
I’m architect myself and I’ve been through quite a few suppliers – at this price this one is worth the attention!If you are looking for one my advice – forget internet, you need to go to the showroom and touch it. You can tell a good door what you see one!!!
I did few renos and I’m was selling the old door to the traders, as they weren’t bad – paid me half a price of the new ones.
AND NUMBER TWO ON MY LIST – IS A KITCHEN!
If it’s the old kitchen – repaint it inside and outside (use spray), put in the stain steal modern handles and replace the bench.
I’m using Ikea’s thick white benches – costs $90 for 1.2m benchTake thick ones – you wouldn’t believe the difference it makes! Last time I just glue them on top of the old ones. The cupboard were narrow so we moved them away from the wall – new bench covered the gap behind.
3 hours of work and total of $340 spent on kitchen and $40pw increase in rent. Plus we sold the house in 2 month with 48% higher price
Cheers,
Please go and attend some liquidated auction houses – great bargins to be had for all …
D
Sorry to bump this up after so long, but I’m pretty interested…
Regarding these type of cosmetic improvements, particularly gardening and simple landscaping, what sort of return could you expect? I realise this is obviously a rediculaously broad question, but maybe some examples, or rough estimates?
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