While land and space make up much of the property value in London, it’s important to note that, with affluent buyers browsing the market, there is a desire to move into homes that already feel complete. This is only reinforced with the growing number of dilapidated central properties that need a full renovation, yet have eye-watering prices still.
So, curb appeal is important, and external presentation can give a boost to your property’s valuation. It can also get viewers in the door, because it fills them with confidence that it’s not yet another fixer-upper.
Elevate your London home’s exterior
Even modest investments in a property’s external presentation can change a buyer’s psychology, as they head in with rose-tinted glasses. Atmosphere alone is shown to improve property values. Your best bet when starting out is landscaping, particularly in London where greenery is cherished.
The liberal use of plants can inject some structure and life into the road. If you’re looking to create elegant boundaries (well needed for London’s terraced properties), a deep green blue holly can boost a sense of privacy. Sourcing quality specimens is going to be important for longevity, and specialist growers like Heijnen Plants provide a good selection that suits city gardens.
Beyond flora, sophistication can be created with tidy pathways. And, surprisingly, laying these can often be done yourself if on a budget. Another affordable but impactful change is with the front door, perhaps giving it a lick of paint and using some dramatic (but subtle) lighting guiding the eyes towards it. Consider motion-detecting lights at the gate, pathway or porch to give a sense of modernity, even if it’s an old building (these can be sourced for very cheap prices).
Making an impact
A little TLC goes a long way, but it is worth developing a more in-depth plan. If you have any diminutive but important spaces, like balconies or compact front gardens, you want to make them look as big as possible. This can be done with stylish planting, but not overcrowding, and lights that beam upwards for long shadows. Landscaping flat surfaces can also make the footprint seem bigger than it is, and keeping privacy hedges tall but not too deep can also help.
It’s also worth looking at local trends and leaning into them, because people are often browsing that area because they enjoy it. For example, Kensington’s mews or Hampstead’s village-like streets often use structured, architectural planting to define and modernise property frontages that fit in with their surroundings. If your road has a Prunus ‘Kanzan’ (pink tree), you could use some pink accents in your ornaments or flower planting.
Lasting value and enjoyment
London property is often said to be location-led, but it’s also true that those buying in the area likely have the budget for it, and they want something with character and life – particularly for a city steeped in culture and history. And, for yourself, your property is a part of the road’s aesthetic, and so improving your curb appeal can encourage others to do so and have a butterfly effect on the local area.
