Updated October 2026
Contract for Sales Seller’s Most Asked Questions Article 27
Kerb appeal, also commonly called curb appeal, can influence a potential buyer’s first impression and interest in a property. In NSW, a tidy and well-maintained exterior can help a home present well in advertising and at inspections. It cannot guarantee a higher price or a quicker sale. The most useful improvements are affordable, appropriate to the property and supported by accurate marketing. This guide explains how to improve presentation while avoiding unnecessary spending and legal problems.
What is kerb appeal
Kerb appeal refers to the attractiveness of a property’s exterior as viewed from the street. It includes the lawn, landscaping, paintwork, pathways, fencing, entrance and overall tidiness of the front facade. For apartments, the building entrance and shared gardens also contribute to the impression buyers receive.
A welcoming exterior helps buyers picture arriving home. Conversely, peeling paint, an overgrown garden or a damaged gate may prompt questions about maintenance. Appearance is only one part of the assessment: location, accommodation, building condition, comparable sales and the buyer’s budget remain important.
Why presentation matters when selling
A positive first impression can encourage buyers to explore the property and pay attention to its strengths. Clear access, good natural light and a visible entrance make an inspection easier. A well-presented exterior also gives the photographer a stronger starting point for the online listing.
Presentation may influence perceived value and the issues buyers raise during negotiations. Addressing obvious maintenance problems can reduce distractions, but a freshly painted facade does not establish that a building is structurally sound. Buyers should still undertake their own inspections. Sellers should not assume that attractive landscaping will overcome an unrealistic asking price or unresolved defects.
Improved presentation may also help attract interest sooner, potentially reducing holding costs if a sale follows. That is a possibility, not a promise. Market conditions and the sale strategy can outweigh cosmetic changes. Ask your agent which improvements suit likely buyers in your particular neighbourhood.
What verified research says about kerb appeal
The study Valuing Curb Appeal, published online in 2019 and in a 2020 journal issue, estimated that a home’s kerb appeal and that of its neighbour across the street together could account for up to 7% of its sale price. The research used street photographs and statistical modelling to examine the relationship between presentation and prices.
This US research supports taking street presentation seriously, but it does not establish a NSW price premium or a guaranteed return on renovations. The University of Texas at Arlington’s research summary discusses its relevance to the American housing market. A seller should not apply the percentage to their own asking price or assume that spending more on landscaping will produce an equivalent gain.
1 Start with cleaning and garden maintenance
Look at the property from the footpath before deciding what to change. Remove rubbish, tidy garden beds, mow the lawn and clear leaves from the entrance. Clean windows and accessible paths using methods suitable for the surfaces. Arrange gutters or difficult areas to be cleaned safely by an appropriate contractor.
Trim vegetation that obscures the entrance or makes access difficult, subject to relevant tree controls. Keep bins and stored items neatly arranged. Simple maintenance may be enough to make the frontage more inviting without installing an expensive new garden. Choose plants you can keep healthy throughout the campaign.
2 Repair obvious problems before adding decoration
A loose handrail, damaged step, leaking gutter or sticking gate deserves attention before decorative upgrades. Obtain suitable advice where cracking, movement or water damage suggests a deeper problem. Painting over a stain or concealing a crack does not resolve its cause.
Keep invoices, reports and any approvals for completed work. Give your solicitor and agent accurate information about repairs and outstanding issues. They can help determine how the condition should be described and whether contractual disclosure is required. Cosmetic presentation should support a truthful account of the property.
3 Refresh paintwork and the entrance selectively
Where appropriate, repairing and repainting worn surfaces can improve the frontage. A clean front door, readable street number and working entrance lighting may also help. Choose finishes that suit the building and surrounding streetscape. Obtain written quotes before committing to extensive painting or replacement fencing.
Check preparation requirements and the contractor’s scope, including access, waste removal and any necessary repairs. A rushed repaint can leave you paying twice. If the sale timetable is short, a smaller job completed properly may be more useful than a major project that remains unfinished when inspections begin.
4 Check approvals before changing the exterior
Some minor works qualify as exempt development, but only when all relevant standards are satisfied. Do not assume that every fence, deck or exterior alteration is approval-free. Check council requirements, especially for heritage properties. State heritage exemptions have conditions and do not automatically permit painting previously unpainted significant brickwork.
For strata property, consult the NSW renovation rules and the scheme’s by-laws before changing external features or common property. External alterations generally require owners corporation approval. Obtain council advice before removing trees, as local controls vary. Allow time for necessary approvals rather than treating the marketing deadline as permission to proceed.
5 Keep photographs and descriptions accurate
Good photography should show the property clearly and attractively. The NSW property advertising guidelines require agents to avoid photographs that create a misleading impression. Digitally removing defects or adding features that do not exist can misrepresent the property. Old photographs may also mislead if the building or garden has materially changed.
Review the listing before publication. Check boundaries, parking, views and claims about approvals or future potential. A photograph of a nearby park should not suggest that it is part of the property or visible from the home when it is not. Clearly distinguish location photographs from photographs taken at the property.
An agent’s material-fact and misrepresentation obligations are separate from the seller’s contract disclosure requirements. Discuss known problems with your solicitor rather than assuming that every defect must be volunteered or that silence is always permissible. Answers and marketing statements must not create a false impression.
A real NSW case about attractive features and accurate information
In Keci v Barnes (2026), buyers agreed to purchase a Bronte property for $6.2 million. Ocean views were a major attraction. The selling agents discussed an approved nine-unit neighbouring development and reassured the buyers about the views. The vendors knew about a substantially larger proposal for 100–120 dwellings that had been declared State Significant Development, but that information was not disclosed.
The NSW Supreme Court found misleading implied representations and rescinded the contract for innocent misrepresentation. It ordered the vendors to refund the $310,000 deposit. The case concerned incomplete information about an appealing feature, rather than an untidy garden. It illustrates why sellers and agents need to consider the impression created by what they say, even where individual statements are literally true.
Set a practical budget and sales plan
Ask your agent to identify the few improvements most likely to matter to prospective buyers. Compare written quotes and set a spending limit. Include possible delays, contractor availability and ongoing holding costs. Avoid treating a broad claim about property values as a guarantee that a particular renovation will pay for itself.
Document the advice you receive and your decisions about proposed work. A disappointing sale price does not, by itself, prove that an agent was negligent or entitle a seller to recover the difference from an earlier appraisal. Any claim needs assessment of the duties, conduct, evidence and resulting loss.
Before listing, complete agreed work, check the accuracy of photographs and descriptions, and have the sale contract and required disclosures prepared. Contact CM Lawyers for help with a NSW property sale, disclosure questions or a dispute about representations made during the sales process.
Key resources
- Valuing Curb Appeal — Johnson, Tidwell and Villupuram’s research article, published online in 2019 and in a 2020 journal issue. The abstract states the combined property and neighbour finding.
- University research summary — University of Texas at Arlington article of 29 August 2025 discussing the research in its US context.
- Exempt development — NSW Planning guidance on minor work and development standards.
- Standard exemptions for State Heritage Register items and tree removal guidance — Conditions and approval checks before exterior changes.
- Strata renovation rules — NSW Government guidance on approvals, external alterations and common property.
- Property advertising guidelines and misrepresentation and material facts — NSW requirements for accurate photographs and representations.
- Keci v Barnes (2026) — Official NSW Supreme Court judgment on misrepresentation about neighbouring development and views.
