We all know first impressions count, whether face-to-face when we meet new people, visit somewhere for the first time or even when we first see a property we want to buy or rent.

Kerb appeal is so crucial for a property to make a good impression. After all, the outside of a house and the garden are the first things people will see. It makes sense that the garden condition will give people an insight into what to expect from the house, which will affect the rental value too.

Garden Improvements for an excellent first impression when renting out your property

Our ten garden improvements to increase rental income will help your property paint a perfect first impression.

If the garden is a mess, out of control and an eyesore, that first impression will go into the rest of the property viewing.

Subconsciously, upon viewing a messy garden, a tenant will take that negative mindset with them when viewing the rest of the property.

Minor issues inside the property become more significant than they are. Small needs the house doesn’t provide become major blockers for the potential tenant… all because of a bad first impression.

A neat garden paints a positive first impression. This could help the tenant be more likely to overlook or downplay issues the property may have, increasing their likelihood of renting the property.

Therefore putting effort into a garden is essential for landlords to get tenants quickly. 

After the kitchen and living room, gardens will see their fair share of use, from food and drink spilt in the kitchen to plants being trodden on in the garden and furniture worn in the living room.

This treatment is unjust. These are our homely prized possessions and deserve to be treated as such. It is our duty to keep the garden lush, the kitchen sparkling, and the living room clutter-free, but we know it can sometimes be challenging.

Keeping up with the ever-changing home trends is an almost impossible task, which is why it’s best to keep it simple and cheap, especially when you look at renting out your property.

When it comes to the good old ‘British summer’, it’s time to dust off those rakes and get working on our gardens. But, wanting your garden to look the best it can be doesn’t come without spending a few pennies, or does it? In our case, it doesn’t; we’ve devised a list of 10 ways to improve your garden for nothing.

Mowing the lawn (the right way)

Standing as one of the most hated summer chores. If you listen closely, people across the nation can be heard unanimously groaning at the thought of unloading the lawnmower from the shed.

To optimise aesthetics, the grass can’t just be short; it should be stripped. The striped lawn adds finesse to the garden that you wouldn’t get from regular mowing. For this, you’ll need a lawnmower with a roller.

Raj Dosanjh, Founder of Rent Round, the letting agent comparison site, had this to say;

“There’s nothing more simple to fix than a messy lawn, to paint a better picture of a property. An overgrown lawn makes the garden look smaller and instantly gives the impression of a lot of work is needed. 

Properties with a well-maintained lawn get a far better rate of enquiries and therefore demand.

Making matters even worse, if you walk down a street that has a host of poorly kept lawns & messy gardens, it paints a negative perception of the street which for sure impacts prices”.

Pruning shrubs and hedges

If you have a pair of hands, scissors or hedge clippers (all three are preferable), then you need to be pruning your shrubbery. It’s easy to take these plants for granted as they’re usually quite untidy by nature; however, with a bit of elbow grease, you can make them an attraction in your garden. Now we’re not expecting you to go to the lengths that some enthusiasts do with their bush shaped animals, but a little off the top and side wouldn’t go amiss.

Painting – deck furniture, fences, sheds, gates

Nothing adds a sense of refinishing as paint does. The holy grail in home improvements, paint is also extremely useful in garden renovations. Taking the leftover colour that you have lying around and splashing it on a fence, gate shed, or even deck furniture will give it that textual layer that it has been screaming for.

Clean the patio

A reasonably self-explanatory renovation, yet widely overlooked. By simply scrubbing your patio or using a pressure washer if available, it’ll bring your stoney walkway back to its former glory.

Declutter

It’s a common misconception that decluttering is the same as cleaning; it is very different. In the garden, to declutter is removing the unnecessary objects or things; this could be; dead leaves, old furniture or whatever else may be taking up space. By clearing these unwanted items, your garden gains a tidy glow. It can be prudent to look at Skip Hire for easy removal of garden waste and to help you keep the area clean and organised while making changes.

Get rid of your old plants.

As plants begin to wilt and lose their vibrant colours, it’s an unfortunate sign that they are on their last legs or finished for the season. This is unless they are perennial. They deserve a respectful goodbye, so yank them from the root out of the soil and throw them right into the compost heap. Then you will be sure they will come back to life the next year.

Lighting

When the cool summer evenings roll in, more time will be spent outside enjoying the refreshing breeze into the late hours of the night. We can’t be outside in the dark now, can we? Hang a string of Christmas lights – preferably not coloured – over your patio or decking to create a warm feel. This can add depth to your garden and illumination during the summer nights.

Layer plants by height

Of course, creating a flower bed increases the appeal of your garden, but organising it can do so much more. Layering your plants by height can really improve the neatness of your garden; while it may take some effort to dig up and then replant to get this right, it’s very much worth it.

Edge the lawn

A lesser-known hack that can tidy up your lawn immediately. Edging your lawn consists of creating a small edge between the grass and the flowerbeds. The aftermath of a well-edged lawn is something to behold.

Weed flower beds

Weeding your garden can easily make the change from terrible to impressive; we know it requires some work, but it shows the price you have in your home. 

Your flowerbeds are likely the most beautiful and colourful part of your garden, so why are their disgusting weeds infiltrating the attraction! If you are to do any of the methods on our list, this would probably be the most important.

Letting agent advice

Letting agents are experts on how to make a property look good. The garden is the first impression,  but it’s not the full package.

A good letting agent will help you with other tweaks vital in letting out your property with the maximum return.

• Would a new boiler increase your rental income?
• How much extra would you get if you implement on-site parking with a dropped kerb?
• What’s the expected return if you improve the current furnishing? The more rent your property gets, the higher their income, so they have a vested interest. You don’t want to risk missing out on quick and cheap fixes that can go a long way to increase your income. So in this way, it makes sense to make to look after your garden when renting out your property. A letting agent will guide you through this process.

Getting the right letting agent is therefore of high importance. Rent Round provides a platform for landlords to enter their postcode and compare local letting agents & property managers.