Kerb appeal help desperately needed please!

[Mumwithbaggage]

We need to sell my late dad's house asap - long boring story but it's costing us far too much money. Trying to get away from the elderly looking image. The inside is being addressed but I am absolutely lacking inspiration when it comes to kerb appeal. It has zero right now. Great sized plot at the end of a cul-de-sac but the front is so dull. If I put pots by the front door it blocks garage access - maybe that doesn't matter for selling?? Any (cheap) bright ideas very gratefully received! I'm not going to the expense of resurfacing the drive. This is one of the eastate agent's rather rubbish pictures. Will be changing agents after we have updated it. Thank you!

Should I say freshly decorated - lol not decimated

Thanks - agents said do nothing and leave it blank. That hasn't worked at all so we're going all House Doctor. It could be a fabulous place for someone.

Are you sure it's not over priced? Look at sold prices of similar properties nearby.

How long has it been on the market?
Are you getting viewings that don't translate to interest, or no viewings?
What makes you think the outside is significantly off putting as opposed to other things, most specifically is it overpriced?

I have to say I do agree with the comment about the blinds giving it an institutional look though. It depresses the whole look of the place for me, far more than the fact the garden is a blank slate. Would it be too much faff to take them down and put up cheap but plain curtains?

I think it's lovely.

As others have said you could jet wash it and put some pots around. But I've found the main problem with selling is the price.

I would put a mature potted climber on end wall maybe on a nice trellis, then lots of planted pots , I’ve done it’s in the past and sold them to the purchasers , got bigger rather lots of small bits , keep watering them etc
nice freshly painted bench also sounds like a plan to

Ps a ring doorbell is handy when you’re not about to stop theft etc

Nice house number sign 47 Smith Street etc on the front.

Get rid of the weeds.
Big potted shrubs x 2 and a bench.
Hanging basket by the door.

It looks perfectly fine though.

The black / damp bricks would be the thing putting me off. I'd assume the house has a damp issue and wouldn't want to touch it. No buy will know from that photo that it was a leak that's been fixed.

It's the price, rather than any minor cosmetic changes. If you look at what else has sold recently in the area for the price you are asking for, then honestly compare what those properties had to offer compared to this one, then that will show you the issue.

I don't think the front (which is fine) or the "elderly image" are the main problem. I had a look at the listing (hope you don't mind!) and it's a great house with a huge flat garden which would be very appealing to lots of buyers.

However the layout isn't ideal, specifically the conservatory which can only be accessed via the main bedroom, and which the window of bedroom 2 looks directly into. Definitely fixable, but not without significant expense (internal layout change and/or remove conservatory). Realistically you're not going to do that pre-sale so unfortunately dropping the price might be the only way forward.

It's all about the price and the market ultimately. However you have to hook people first, so a prettier photo for the listing may get more potential buyers looking.
Can you add the listing? @Hols23 - how did you find it?!
If it's costing you far too much money then consider dropping the price.
Most people would assume it would be a project doing up an elderly gentleman's dated home, hence it would need to be priced carefully.

Where the Xs are can you put troughs or pots with plants.

The circle - get that out and weed all along that edge. I see it's a path. You could put pots along there but is it a path people will want to walk along when viewing?

If you click on the picture then long press the option to search with Google images comes up. You can get the listing from there.

I agree with a pp. The layout isnt great so anyone buying would be factoring in how to improve it.
Conservatory appears to run the length of the two bedrooms one of which has it covering the window so a light / privacy issue. The only way to access the conservatory is through the master bedroom. Again, a privacy issue, not ideal.
Both the bathroom and the en suite seem to have some issues with large cracks coming from coving height and running diagonally down the wall. That would needs some investigation.
Bathrooms and kitchen are dated so people will be factoring replacement into their budget.
The whole place does have a feel of being poorly maintained and that no decor has been done in a long time. All of this will be getting factored in.
I think that the price is probably going to have to be reduced as there is a considerable amount needing spent to remedy the above points.
It does look, like it has a decent sized garden which is a plus and the living/dining room and master bedroom are also good sizes.

I agree about the layout which is mad - I'd turn it all round and have the living area at the back but then I don't want to live there. I took a photo of the front today - the bricks are no longer discoloured in the same way - there's obviously been some drying out since the photo. I've done some painting. The kitchen has also been ripped out and will be replaced - at a cost of about half what the bloody place is costing us every month so worthwhile. The bathroom is being improved but not replaced and the dreadful lighting in the sitting room is gone.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I have an iron bench off Marketplace I'll repaint and have pots for the front of the garden. I absolutely agree about the blinds too - thanks for pointing that out. Cream curtains all the way!

I agree. The blinds add to the drabness. I'm not keen on them. And agree with pots under the front ppt windows or those oblong planters maybe with some spring bulbs.

I agree with everyone else that it doesn't need much doing to it, so please don't spend a lot of money. You've already had a lot of suggestions for where to put planters, so I thought I would just add some plant suggestions. If I was you I'd go with violas/ pansies/ cyclamen that you should be able to buy fairly cheaply and they are sometimes available in supermarkets, although it's a bit hit and miss. They'll add a lovely splash of colour and are very low maintenance at this time of year.

It's a great plot and a great project. I wouldn't waste money on pot plants in January, or hanging baskets! Madness. Maybe in spring reconsider.

It needs work and the right buyer.

Hi, I don’t know what the inside is like but I like the shape of the house from the outside. I think you could improve the outside with minimal effort. I’d be tempted to paint the garage door, weed and jet wash and put a couple of trees/bushes at the side and some troughs with flowers at the front. I thinks it’s worth a pop of colour at any time of year. Good luck with it op.

Thank you @rainbowunicornfor search tip. OP I have looked the listing, as it's a classic case of 'potential' and everyone can see it could be a nice home. The price it's being marketed at is above the ceiling price for the road, so it would hopeful to ask someone to pay top price for a house that does need updating. Modern living is an open kitchen with doors onto the garden, so it's begging to be turned round. I wouldn't spend any more money on it inside. There is a very limited market of buyers who would want that layout, and the lounge doesn't have big windows for light. However making it more attractive at the front with planters would get buyers thinking. I think you may need to soften the price to sell it.

Jet wash the house broke as well if you can to get rid of the green.

If you wanted to go all out it would look prettier white instead of all brick

How long has it been on the market, and is it priced competitively? My DMs house was awful in terms of kerb appeal, and pretty grim inside, but sold almost immediately at a good price.

If the slabs under the windows are a path to another door don't put pots on them! A bench can be on the lawn, especially if its jyst to add kerb appeal. Put pots on the concrete on the left of the picture to disguise the ugly concrete (you dont have to leave them there when you sell so you could choose something youd like in your garden). As PP have said paint the fence.