EPICURE Early Spring 2020

EPICURE home
HOME FRONT
How to create “Kerb Appeal” from just £150
to attract buyers and sell for a top price...
More than two thirds (68%) of homeowners say kerb
appeal was important in their choice of home.
Homeowners have revealed a list of the features
most important to them in creating a positive first
impression in the home they wanted to buy.
In the HomeOwners Alliance survey, of more than 2,000 UK
adults conducted by YouGov, the most important aspects
were well-maintained windows and a roof that appeared in
good condition. A well-maintained front garden, pathways
and fences were also highlighted as important, in addition to a
well-painted frontage.
The HomeOwners Alliance has teamed up with the Federation
of Master Builders (FMB) to see how much it would cost to
improve these features in your home. The good news is that
homeowners can have a tidy front garden from as little as
£150, while fixing broken tiles on a roof to make it look top
notch can cost as little as £190.
Each of the ten features that contribute to kerb appeal can
be delivered for under £2,830 (based on an average threebedroom
house) and could be completed within a week by a
small team of tradespeople.
The HomeOwners Alliance survey asked homeowners what
kerb appeal features mattered most to them when they bought
their home, and found the most important features were as
follows. This list also gives indicative costs provided by the
FMB to enhance, fix or deliver these kerb appeal features for
your home:
Windows in good condition (71%)
Cost: The FMB say the cost of repairing and redecorating
wooden windows that have not been touched for a decade
would be between £1,000 and £2,000. For upstairs windows,
scaffolding may be required instead of a ladder and, if so, it
typically costs £400 a day to rent.
A roof that appears in good condition (68%)
Cost: The FMB say replacing five missing, loose or cracked
roof tiles would cost around £190 and would take up to one
day. Scaffolding may be needed.
A tidy front garden with no weeds and trimmed hedges (67%)
Cost: The FMB say the cost of tidying an overgrown front
garden would be around £150 for a day’s work.
A well maintained pathway/drive (59%)
Cost: The FMB say repairing and improving the pathway or
drive up to the house could typically cost between £100 and
£500 depending on the extent of the damage and the surface.
Well-maintained fences and walls (56%)
Cost: The FMB say repainting a fence costs about £90 per
panel (including labour) while building a new fence could cost
up to £1500, depending on the materials used.
A well-decorated exterior (54%)
Cost: The FMB estimates it would cost around £550 to repaint
the front of a house. Scaffolding may be needed.
A well-maintained and attractive front door (52%)
Cost: Redecorating a front door would typically cost £200,
according to the FMB.
Clear, functioning gutters (50%)
Cost: The FMB say clearing and repairing gutters would cost
around £250. Scaffolding may be needed.
Hidden wheelie bins (36%)
Cost: A natural willow wheelie bin screen storage costs as little
as £49.99.
A well-lit house (26%)
Cost: The FMB say adding an exterior light to the house can
cost between £250 and £750 and should be completed by a
qualified electrician.
Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of the HomeOwners Alliance,
says: “Kerb appeal creates a lasting first impression – most
buyers make up their minds in the first few minutes of arriving
at a property. So if you’re about to put your home on the market
this autumn or your house has been on sale for a while, it’s
worth going through this list and seeing what improvements you
can make.”
For more great free advice please visit the HomeOwners
Alliance website:
www.hoa.org.uk
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