How to Improve your Street Appeal

32 How to Improve Your Street Appeal

First impressions are crucial, especially when it comes to selling your home. Your home’s street appeal is important and, by making a few simple improvements on the outside, you can entice potential buyers to look inside.

Outdoor lighting

Exterior lighting can make a big impact – it can not only complement your home but it can also showcase your property to prospective buyers who drive by at night time. Strategically placed landscape lighting can also be used to illuminate walkways, emphasise key features of your garden and can add an overall charm to your home after dark.

Clean, green garden

A well-manicured garden can boost the street appeal of any home. It’s a good idea to mow the lawn, prune any shrubs, trim overgrown footpaths and to clear any weeds. If your house isn’t maintained on the outside, then buyers may assume that this carries on into the home. If you don’t have a garden then you could always add potted plants or planter boxes to your outdoor area. Herbs or perennials plants are good options and both add great colour to any space.

Fencing

A fence is a welcoming feature to any home and it can be a great addition to consider when it comes to selling your home. A fence provides not only a sense of security and privacy but it also defines your property from the street. If you already have a fence, then make sure it’s clean and in good condition. If your fence is looking a little worse for wear, then give it a bit of TLC – tighten loose latches, replace broken panels and give it a fresh coat of paint if necessary.

5 Riverside Rd, Orewa (09) 426 5287 flowersbyjoanne@xtra.co.nz www.flowersbyjoanne.co.nz

Out to Lunch Special

Tempted by last month’s annual Soljans Cellar-Door Wine Sale at 366 SH16, management and I went to pick up some genuine wine bargains and stayed for lunch. Our evening meal menu was already fixed, so management chose a lighter option – but I had something meatier in every sense!

Management picked the oven-baked vegetable filo parcels, containing pine nuts, egg plant, courgette, pumpkin, feta and Spanish onions, served with relish and a petite side salad. Two large filo parcels were delicious, cooked to perfection and just melted in the mouth. The suggested accompanying wine was also chosen: the Soljans Estate Fusion Sparkling Muscat, which complemented the course perfectly.

I had the pan-fried eye fillet, served rare, topped with tarragon butter and accompanied by potato mash and broccoli, together with a divine balsamic jus. No steak knife needed – the fillet was perfectly aged and cooked exactly as a rare steak should be. The plate was warm, too – an essential requirement but all too rarely provided in New Zealand. To complement such a fine meal, only the Soljans Estate Barrique Reserve Syrah 2013 would do; and what a great wine!

Remembering that this was ‘just’ lunch we eschewed afters, other than my long black. All the above for just $73.80 in a very comfortable and log-burner-warmed restaurant, attended by very efficient and friendly staff. Great parking and great service also from the cellar-door staff who loaded our wine sale purchases straight into the car.

Highly recommended for a reasonably-priced special lunch, in a top-notch restaurant!

Manufactured on site and selling direct to the public • Bedheads • Chairs • Ottomans • Footstools • Sofas • Re-Upholstery Service