Canberra houses on the market with the best gardens this spring

Spring is a great time of year to bring a home to market, but it’s also the season when garden and plant growth can go into overdrive.

That needs to be given attention before property photography and a first home inspection.

David Stokes of Blackshaw Manuka says first impressions count for everything.

“Kerb appeal can’t be underestimated. Garden maintenance should begin there,” he says.

“Buyers read a lot into how a garden is presented as an insight as to what they might expect inside a home.”

Stokes says lawns need to be mowed and edged regularly and plants, bushes and trees should be pruned.

“And sellers need to stay on top of the maintenance while a home is on the market.”

Stokes says keeping gardens neat also conveyed another message.

“A well-maintained garden suggests that it can be kept that way with minimal maintenance.”

Martin Rolfe of Restyle Landscapes says spring is a key season to get on top of a garden.

“It’s definitely the time to get those easy jobs done like the mowing and pruning and so on,” he says.

“But it’s the tasks I call the ‘one-percenters’ that make the difference if you’re selling.

“That’s the next level of detail – perhaps digging out the moss between pavers and replacing the sand; maybe cleaning out any drainage sumps or strip drains.

“It might seem minor, but people do notice and it tells them a home has been maintained.”

• Kerb appeal. Gardens are literally the gateway to a potential home sale. Buyers can read a lot into the state of the greenery. Keep lawns mowed, edged and bushes and trees clipped and pruned.
• One-percenters. Be prepared to go to another level of detail in addressing the “one-percenters”. These are the tasks like plucking moss from between pavers, cleaning drainage sumps, strip drains and more.
• Perceptions. A well-maintained garden sends another important message to potential buyers: “All the hard work is done and it’s easy to stay on top of it from here on.”

Allhomes’ top pick of garden homes for sale:

Narrabundah

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This is a family home that sits comfortably in its leafy environment on a generous 932-square-metre block.

It’s on the high side of the street and enjoys a northerly aspect with sweeping views from the airport to Mount Ainslie.

That ensures this character home is light-filled. And that’s not its only advantage. A thoughtful extension to the original design has created a spacious and functional floor plan that’s family-friendly.

A formal lounge and dining room plus the parents’ bedroom, study and bathroom are at the front of the house while three further double bedrooms and the main bathroom are to the rear.

Character features include timber-framed windows and hardwood flooring to the main bedroom and living room.

An open-plan, well-equipped kitchen and huge family room with a vaulted ceiling bring the family together.

Entertaining is enhanced by french doors off the living room opening onto a vine-covered verandah and from the family room onto a secluded side courtyard.

Comfort is provided through ducted gas heating, an open fireplace in the living room and a slow combustion fire in the family room.

There is great storage inside and in a further area next to a single lock-up garage.

Narrabundah offers easy access to a variety of primary and secondary schools, along with local cafes, restaurants, boutiques, the Fyshwick markets and the Parliamentary Triangle.

Price guide: $1.4 million +

Auction: 10am, October 31

Agent: Blackshaw Manuka, David Stokes 0410 598 463

Or try these:

Kambah

View property

Price guide: $1.4 million +

Private sale

Agent: One Agency Sandy Morris, Sandy Morris 0420 380 895

Jeir

View property

Price guide: $1.175 million

Private sale

Agent: Elders Murrumbateman, John Lennie 0407 417 783