From renovating the kitchen, to upgrading the bathroom fixtures and repainting the interior walls - there is always plenty to do inside our homes to make sure it looks attractive for buyers when the time comes to sell.

But there is one critical thing that many people forget to take care of, and that is street appeal. In fact, it could actually make or break the sale of your home.

Give buyers ‘the feeling’

Whether it is their first home, or 10th, a buyer is always looking for ‘something special’ when it comes to purchasing property. Yes, it is always about the practical decisions and ensuring we do our due diligence - but people are very rarely willing to settle for something that is less than desirable.

The entrance to your home needs to say to potential buyers ‘you are home’ and while it can be quite an intangible thing to try and achieve, it is important you do your best in order to create this feeling.

From ensuring everything is clean and tidy, to replacing broken fence posts, repainting the garage door, and planting some fresh flowers - there are a number of ways to make your property look good, and in turn make people feel positively drawn to it when they pull up to the curb. This is typically established through ensuring everything looks well cared for and maintained.

Read more: Style for success: Get top dollar for your home with these simple tips 

Set the scene

You are wanting to ‘tell a story’ with the exterior of your home. It is about convincing potential buyers what your property is all about, so that they will be interested in coming through the front gate.

To do this correctly, you need to set the scene for the target market of your property. If it is a family home - you probably want to create a low maintenance section, with adequate fencing and gates. If it is for a professional couple, then try to create an exciting outdoor entertaining space that also has low maintenance plants.

Consider who you will probably be selling your home too, and ensure you meet their requirements through the exterior of your property so that they will be more likely to see what’s inside too.

Go big and bold

To get interested parties inside your home, it is important that they are ‘wowed’ as soon as they pull up to the front of the property. This could be a fresh green front door, a lovely archway covered in wisteria, or simply an interesting design detail that has buyers intrigued to know more.  

If someone is spending a whole weekend looking at houses, and yours is the first they view, then you need to have something they can remember fondly about your home. Otherwise there is the potential that they will forget about it and not return for a second-viewing.  

Appeal to the senses

From a front entrance way that looks good, to one that also smells and sounds great too, is an important part of street appeal. You may be thinking that sure, you can use fragrant flowers to charm noses, but how can you make it harmonious for the ear?

If your property is on a busy road, perhaps it is about disguising it with a water feature, or building a fence to block some of the vehicle noise. Maybe even a wind chime could help to create a feeling of serenity - it is all about diverting the attention away from potentially bothersome noises.

Also, think about planting some soft moss or using smooth river stones (if they work in your garden), as these are things people quite like to ‘touch’ and again this is a plus for appealing to the human senses. There is actually a philosophy of design, called biophilic, and it is about creating natural spaces that humans would have enjoyed in prehistoric times. These are places we still feel comfortable and pleasant in amongst today.

Looking to get top dollar for your property? Check out free guide below on how to prepare your home for sale: