It doesn't work for books, but it does for houses – judging them by their façade I mean. A property's outer appearance, its kerb appeal, is often the deal maker (or breaker) when it comes to buying a home. It takes potential buyers no more than eight seconds to decide whether or not they like a house.
Some houses have natural kerb appeal; the wisteria-clad Queen Anne rectory with a tree-lined drive, for example, will attract potential buyers even if it's a little dilapidated. "For the best country houses, the setting is the kerb appeal," says David of Moray Property.
But on the whole, kerb appeal is more than just a good-looking house – even the ugliest house can have it.
"A house with real kerb appeal lifts your spirit – it's a house where the front garden is well-presented, the railing is in perfect condition, the door immaculately painted, perhaps with roses growing over it," says Paul of Moray Property.
Improving the appearance of a property doesn't necessarily have to be an expensive project, he says – but there are a few rules. "No DIY is better than bad DIY," he says. "Badly painted front doors with drips running down them or dirty looking houses are a no-no. A lack of cleanliness can be very off-putting."
1. Paint your front door. It sounds simple but this is the first thing that people are going to look at. "Go wild with colour, it's the one place you can," says David. Strong, bright colours in full gloss are popular at the moment but if you haven't got the nerve, black is always a safe bet, or a flat, dark plum colour such as "Pelt", by Farrow & Ball, says Tacina Smith of interiors shop Smiths of Kensal Green . For a contemporary look, matt, muted and washed-out colours are favoured in smart Moray streets.
2. Invest in quality door furniture. "Spend an extra £100 to get really good things," David says. "Cheap generally looks cheap." Try to choose furniture in keeping with your property; heavy Victoriana door knockers and letter boxes will look ridiculous unless your home is Victorian. Priors Reclaimation specialises in period door furniture (www.priorsrec.co.uk ), as does Drummonds (www.drummonds-arch.co.uk ) For a more contemporary look go for brushed aluminium or chrome (Knobs & Knockers; www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/knobsandknockers.asp ) Avoid tune-playing door bells !
3. Lighting is vital, placed either side of the front door to add symmetry, or a lantern in a portico entrance, says Alex Michelin, of swanky London developers Finchatton. Don't be afraid to try out lights in situ before you commit; if they're too big or too ornate they can look brash. If your property is approached via a garden, light it sensitively. "Good garden lighting is unseen," Hide lights in the trees or conceal them in the garden path or drive. Carolyn Trevor, an interior designer who has a long list of celebrity clients, recommends Charles Edwards for wall lanterns and lights (www.charlesedwards.com ) or Phillips and Wood (www.phillipsandwood.co.uk )
4. The approach to the front door (steps, a path and/or a driveway), should be swept of leaves, and free from rubbish. Cars, bicycles, horse boxes must be neatly parked. Alex Michelin recommends marble, sandstone or Portland stone for steps and paths, and newly painted railings. Porches can give an air of distinction but can become dumping grounds for clutter. "They can be awful if they are stuck on as an afterthought – they must be in proportion,".
5. Numbering or naming a house can easily go wrong. Wonky numerals, badly painted names, or plaques with pictures (such as birds, trees) do no justice to the front of a house. There's a trend in Inverness for shiny oversized chrome numerals or stencilled numbers, which can be ordered from Turnstyle Designs at www.turnstyledesigns.com or www.nu-line.net/nl For houses with fanlights, Carolyn Trevor suggests the number or name is acid-etched into the glass. Or for an affordable alternative, Tacina Smith recommends number stickers from www.simplystick.co.uk Holborow would steer away from putting a name plaque on a country house. "If they don't know where you live you don't want them there," he says. For those who insist, names can be wrought into gateways, or inscribed tastefully on brass or slate, and screwed to the gate post or porch.
6. Windows look sad when they are dirty, so make sure yours are cleaned regularly. Rotten window frames are also unacceptable and if you're putting in new ones, make sure they are appropriate with the design of the rest of the house. "The position of the glazing bars is massively important,". "And don't feel you have to paint them white. They look great in lots of different colours from stone to dark green to black." Bear in mind the colour of the brick/stone work before choosing a colour though. Finally, all curtain linings and blinds should match when seen from the street or driveway (try www.theblindscompany.co.uk or www.eclectic-interiors.com )
7. However small the space is, add some greenery. "You don't need a big garden to plant a creeper, and houses look beautiful with plants trailing up them,". "And you can easily make window boxes yourself. Just paint a plastic planter and plant it with some draping ivy." Landscaped beds with colourful planting and box hedges set off the front of a house; or for smaller spaces, such as either side of the front door, planters with box topiary. Remember though that some creepers are not good for brickwork as they can pull the mortar out of the pointing.
8. An impressive entrance gate is a "must have" for a country house, Holborow says. But entrances should reflect the period of the house; wrought iron electric gates are in keeping with a new-build home, while a white-painted gate with simple stone pillars is better suited to a manor. Carved owls and eagles should really only adorn the entrance pillars to stately homes and castles.
9. Spruce up a tired façade by repainting, re-pointing, or rendering over ugly brickwork. Don't go too crazy: paint colours should be more sensible than on the front door, and in keeping with the period of the house (and the ones either side, if you live on a street). This doesn't mean to say that they have to be the same colour (unless you are in a heritage area).
10. Don't let the house next door ruin your kerb appeal. If your neighbours have rubbish outside their house, suggest you remove it, rather than whinging about it, David says. "And if you're trimming your hedge, ask if you can do theirs while you're at it – 10 minutes mowing, or rubbish collecting is worth the effort." Try to conceal their rubbish bins (and yours) behind a hedge or a small fence. If you have to have them on show, make sure they are clean and the lids are on.
Good tips people - Now there's no reason for your own home not to have 'Kerb Appeal'
Until the next time,
Mr Jackson.
Posts
