With the variety of property on the market is considerable. The type of property – stand alone dwelling, unit, townhouse or duplex, even tiny home – will vary from place to place, with some areas tending to have a monopoly of one type, depending on the development and growth of an area.

One thing they all have in common is that one’s initial impression of the property comes from its curb appeal. Yes, they may have seen the property online and jumped straight to the internal features, such as number of bedrooms, size of the kitchen etc. however on first visit, the exterior of the property will possibly be the most impactful.

Granted, the driveway and façade of your property may not be its defining feature, but it is the first thing someone will see and it sets the mood of the property. Will it draw people in, or keep them away.

Not only does curb appeal play an important role in the marketing of your property, but also to the functionality of the property. There may be limitations as to what can be done to the front of the property, such a as covenants which are put in place to keep consistency throughout a suburb or housing development.

There’s a good chance that on initial inspection, one may not be able to pick out the rental property in a street. Of course, as a resident you get to know your local area and neighbours, but when you consider from a purely aesthetic perspective how each property looks from the street, it’s important not to stand out for the wrong reasons.

It’s likely you want your property to look a clean and attractive place for your next prospective tenant, and the outside is a great place to start.

Tips for increasing your property’s curb appeal:

• Clear the clutter. The front yard isn’t [usually] a place for storage – keeping the entryway or front of the property minimal will allow the home and the landscaping to shine.
• Tackle overgrown gardens to give them a new lease on life. Remove weeds, leaf litter and any fallen branches and renew garden beds with fresh mulch.
• Pressure clean footpaths and driveways, and clean the external of the property, including windows. The visual improvement will be instant.
• Replace or give new life to aged fittings. While it may not be necessary, a fresh coat of paint will instantly lift the entry way to a property.
• Select easy care plants for new garden beds and consider the placement to ensure they’re both practical and appealing.
• Lastly, fix anything which is broken or potentially damaging, such as walkways or gates or fences.

Presenting your property in its best light by making the exterior and entryway an inviting space, may be easier than you think.