Exterior updates prospective sellers should be considering
Savvy investors are well aware of the benefit a coat of paint can deliver prior to putting a property on the market, particularly to spruce up an exterior – but what elements add the most value?
First impressions are everything, and a colour update or refresh to older paint jobs can make a market difference in the eyes of a buyer. But sometimes it’s not the house paint that’s letting the resale value down, rather landscaping elements that project an image of a tired or damaged property.
As Brighton-based agent and principal of Atria Real Estate, Simone Chin, observed: “First impressions last and begin on arrival at the home. Prospective buyers feel more comfortable walking about a property when they see that maintenance has been of importance to the previous owner – it reassures them that they won’t be inheriting past maintenance neglect.”
A high level of street appeal, she said, “boosts the perception of the property’s value, nudging buyers bid higher. This is due to the fact that exterior housing features are tangible and easier for buyers to evaluate at face value”.
Yet it’s often elements that perhaps aren’t within the regular DIY-ers’ perceived wheelhouse that can have the greatest impact on how a home is presented.
In her view, people preparing a property for sale should look at the value they can add by “fixing cracked driveways, adding warmth by resurfacing and landscaping courtyard and deck spaces, pressure cleaning mouldy driveways and resurfacing them, as well as resurfacing oil-stained garage floors. These upgrades can add tangible value – in the thousands to hundreds of thousands – to your home,” she said.
With this in mind, Dulux has recently launched a specially designed sealing, texturing and painting system made for concrete elements that might need a refresh: paths, driveways, paved courtyards and brick elements, for example.
Dulux brand manager Sorren Henderson said the firm is searching a solution for DIY-ers looking to upgrade elements that would otherwise require specialist tradespeople to fix or rebuild.
“Replacing concrete or other paved surfaces can be quite costly, not only requiring you to fork out thousands for building materials, but also setting aside a hefty fee for a trade specialist to complete the work, and in some instances, additional fees for council permits,” Ms Henderson noted.
“With this new product range in the market, we hope to be able to arm consumers with the knowledge and tools to be able to execute a more affordable, yet effective upgrade to these areas of the home without needing to rip up the existing surfaces,” she said.
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