A tired frontage drags down the look of your whole property.
It’s what people see first when they visit your home. It’s also what buyers form their first impression of. The good news is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to improve it. A few cost-effective tweaks to your front garden and driveway can:
- Boost kerb appeal instantly
- Add real value to your home
- Make the space feel cared for again
Here’s how to do it…
What you’ll discover:
- Why Your Frontage Matters More Than You Think
- Refreshing The Front Garden
- Driveway Ideas That Actually Work
- Gravel Driveway Maintenance Made Simple
- Quick Wins For An Instant Lift
Why Your Frontage Matters More Than You Think
Your frontage is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Earn their keep before the door has even rung. It’s not just us saying it, here’s some stats to prove it. Research found that 93% of people decide on a property based solely on its external appearance.
Even more telling?
Approximately 30% of purchasers admitted they would spend an extra £5,000 on a property that has kerb appeal. Therefore if you’re planning on selling your home, work on your frontage first.
A tired frontage usually has a few common issues:
- Patchy or overgrown front garden: weeds, dead plants, scruffy borders
- Worn-out driveway surface: cracked tarmac, faded block paving, sunken gravel
- Unloved entrance: scuffed door, dusty windows, dead pots
Many of these problems can be solved over a weekend. One of the easiest ways to do this is by installing a gravel driveway. This is an affordable route, and it provides gravel driveway maintenance options that won’t break the bank either. It tolerates the British weather immensely well.
Pretty cool, right?
Below is a breakdown of what to do.
Refreshing The Front Garden
The front garden is half the battle.
Do this and your entire property will begin to feel changed. The secret is simplicity and neatness. Messy front yards appear smaller and more rundown than they actually are.
Sort The Borders First
Dig up weeds, trim overgrown bushes and remove any dead foliage. Next spread a new layer of bark/mulch on top. This single task will make an over tired front garden look 10 times better.
Add Plants With Year-Round Appeal
Don’t go crazy with botanical options. Choose low-maintenance plants that work year round:
- Lavender for scent and structure
- Box hedging for clean lines
- Hydrangeas for colour
- Evergreen shrubs so the garden never looks bare in winter
Improving your garden could increase the value of your property by as much as £58,000, so it’s well worth getting things right.
Hide The Bins
Bins are a kerb appeal killer.
Construct a basic bin store. Drape a screen over them. Hide them down the side of your house. Anything that hides them away will make your frontage look 10x tidier.
Driveway Ideas That Actually Work
The driveway consumes a large portion of your frontage. Therefore if it looks worn, your property will look worn.
The good news is you have lots of choices to brighten it up.
Gravel Driveways
Gravel driveway surfaces are one of the UK’s favourites for many reasons.
It’s inexpensive, free-draining and attractive. Gravel pathways can work with both old cottages and contemporary homes. Overall cost is around £40 to £80 per sq m.
Bonus: the crunching sound when walked on is a nice security feature too.
Block Paving
Block paving gives you a smarter, more polished look.
There are plenty of styles and colours available to complement your home. The cons? They are more expensive and weeds grow in the cracks.
Resin Bound
Resin bound driveways are having a moment.
They are very sleek and modern and require very little maintenance. Plus they are SUDS compliant for drainage. Downside is cost – resin is usually 3x to 4x more pricey than gravel.
Refresh What You’ve Got
Don’t have the budget for a new driveway?
Occasionally though, it’s just worth refreshing what’s there. Power washing can transform a tired surface, giving it years taken off its appearance. Giving gravel or block paving joints a topping up will also make a big impact for very little money.
Gravel Driveway Maintenance Made Simple
Gravel driveways get a bad rap for being high maintenance.
Truthfully, it’s not that difficult if you maintain regularly. Follow this simple guide on gravel driveway maintenance:
Rake Regularly
Gravel shifts. That’s just what it does.
Cars, footsteps move the stones around and eventually you’ll end up with bald spots. Take a garden rake that’s stiff and rake it level every couple of weeks. Only takes 10 minutes and you’ll see the difference.
Top Up The Stones
Every couple of years your gravel driveway will need a top up.
You will know when to because they will start to show patches of the membrane below. A bag of new gravel is inexpensive and easy to apply yourself.
Tackle The Weeds
Weeds are the biggest gripe with gravel.
Most weeds will be blocked by a proper weed membrane but a few might get through. Hoe them off by hand or spray weed killer on them. Don’t let them be — they’ll quickly take over.
Check Your Edges
Edging keeps gravel where it belongs.
Otherwise gravel drops on your lawn and your driveway looks untidy. You can use timber, metal or stone edging. Place a stabilising grid beneath if you want to prevent gravel movement completely.
Quick Wins For An Instant Lift
Don’t have time for a full refresh? No worries.
Here are some quick wins that take a few hours but lift the frontage:
- Repaint front door: a new colour can work miracles. 71% of buyers believe maintained windows & features are most important for kerb appeal.
- Clean the windows: cleaner windows make the whole house look loved
- Add planters: having a couple of pots either side of the door lifts the standard
- Power wash the path: dirty paths make everything look dingier than it is
- Update the house number: swap a tired plastic number for something stylish
Both can be done in less than 4 hours. Put them side by side and your façade totally changes.
Final Thoughts
Refreshing a tired frontage doesn’t have to be a massive project.
A few strategic changes to your front garden and driveway can work wonders for your property’s curb appeal. Here’s a quick recap:
- Sort the front garden borders and add easy plants
- Refresh the driveway (gravel is the best budget option)
- Stay on top of gravel driveway maintenance with regular raking and weed control
- Hide the bins and clean up the entrance
- Stack quick wins together for an instant lift
Most listings only appear “lived in” due to lack of attention to the small things. Eliminate the easy fixes and you’ll see how big of a difference they can make.
