Outdoor house dressing

[Housingdestressnotdistress]

Asking for a friend who’s not on here. Selling her empty house. Outside is very grey (inside is much nicer than the outside). Grey gravel instead of grass, grey driveway. Windows and doors are all white (which makes the outside look even more grey!)

considering adding flowers in boxes to the front and either side of the door but worried that it might look overly fake because the inside is empty.

what would you do? Leave the outside grey or try to dress it? They’re not gardeners so the outside has been left and looks very sad. Thanks

Kerb appeal is important so some plants in pots at the front would be good.

I would put some plants outside and paint the front door. I love a pink front door!

Thanks both.

a new door would be so pretty! Not sure her funds stretch that far but I’ll mention it to her.

Sorry for the stupid question- can you buy daffodils in pots? I’ve only ever bought bulbs or pre-cut!

No idea about the daffs I’m afraid!

French chic paint for the front door. Won’t cost a lot at all. Good luck

If you go to a good garden centre you should be able to buy pots planted up - bearing in mind it can take a few months to sell a house it might be better to get an evergreen shrub or small tree rather than daffodils who coukd be over in Acouple of weeks.

Thank you.

I’ll send them to a garden centre. It will be a new experience for them!

Pairs of standard bay trees or box balls - might be a bit of a cliche but normally look good.
Or nice outer pots with inner ones that fit inside - that way you can have daffs now - you can buy them ready to flower but depending on where you are this might be a bit late to bother, and then replace the inner pots with some planted up with spring bedding plants. Means you won’t have a period of tired looking pots and it’s an easy job to swap them over.

Thanks. This sounds like a great idea if she wants to add colourful plants.

neither of us are good in the garden so sorry for the stupid questions. What are spring bedding plants? Should we buy flowered plants when she’s listing for the photos, then swap them out when they get old looking?

Yes buy plants just about to flower, or partially flowering so they look good for the photos and then swap them out when the flowering is over. Just see what’s in the garden centre and looks nice and is a good price. I always over fill the pots if I want quick impact - if you don’t have time for the plants to grow and fill the pot just use more plants.

A couple of Viburnum Tinus would maybe work, evergreen and low maintenance if she isn't living there, and it has flowers
Viburnum tinus Lisa Rose (gardeningexpress.co.uk)

Box is not a great thing to buy nowdays. There are lots of pests that just eat the all the leaves and kill it so they don't tend to last long

@TheHomeEdit thanks. That sounds like a great idea for adding colourful flowers.

@1willgetthere thanks for the suggestion. She’s not living there now so something every green, low maintenance and flowering would be perfect.

@Geneticsbunny thanks for this. Is there anything you recommend that would be better?

thanks everyone

To be honest I wouldn’t bother so much as long as it is clean and tidy. I personally wouldn’t pay more for the house with plants in pots or with bright coloured front door. I would look at size , location, structural issues, etc.

Bay trees in pots?

Me neither, unless the first photo on Rightmove is so grim it’s likely to put off potential buyers. I never ‘dress’ houses for at all, and I’ve always sold well above asking.

Thanks both. She said she’s not sure because doesn’t want the extra cost but worried about putting potential buyers off from viewing. And those who view might get a bad first impression and ruin their opinion of the inside (which is very nice). The outside is really dreary. Inside is lovely. Structurally sound.

Extra cost is exactly my worry in this case. Green or pink door won’t change my views. I will look at location, size, layout and similar things. I don’t mind sellers putting extra flowers but don’t expect me to offer more after that. When we were buying the current house there was very similar for sale just garage detached so smaller back garden and front garden had lovely flower beds. Guess which one we have bought? Of course the one with bigger back garden and therefore without lovely flower beds ( just with overgrown grass) .

I would add some potted plants or hanging baskets or even topiary balls that can be taken away. A smart doormat and clean and tidy windows would help. Also make sure no weeds etc. all easy fixes that won’t cost £££ but will add kerb appeal