KERB APPEAL: A well-kept verge boosts the neighbourhood and improves your chances of selling your property.
Verges create an important first impression of a home or neighbourhood, and also affect property values. This was the inspiration behind the ‘’Outstanding Verge Competition” recently launched by the Fourways/Dainfern office of Pam Golding Properties.
Office manager, Jason Shaw, says the objective of the competition is to create an awareness of the role of the environment and particularly pavement gardens in neighbourhoods.
“Many property owners view the area outside their boundary walls as being of lesser importance. It’s understandable that people choose to devote their energies to parts of the garden in which they spend time, but these external areas make a first impression on potential home buyers and can enhance the appeal of a property and the neighbourhood.
“The competition encourages homeowners to put a little extra effort and creativity into their verges. Aesthetically pleasing exteriors improve homes, and beautify and uplift communities. Attractive neighbourhoods attract buyers and have a positive effect on property values.”
Shaw says the competition was well received by house-proud property owners in the Fourways area.
“The public saw the boards showcasing the verges of other competition entrants and began calling in to enter their own properties. People were encouraging their neighbours to enter their beautiful verges and the initiative quickly took on a life of its own.”
The winner of the Fourways/Dainfern branch’s competition was Lisa de Kock, who developed a beautiful indigenous garden on her verge. Her prize was a R20 000 garden revamp from Hilltop Trading sponsored by Pam Golding Properties.
De Kock says she was surprised to be placed first in the competition as she did not really consider herself a gardener and had only started working on her garden two years ago when she bought her house. However, she says she is a perfectionist and takes great pride in her house and garden.
“If you want to do something, do it properly and from the heart,” she says. “Many homeowners neglect their verges. Initiatives like this are very positive and should be encouraged.”
Shaw says that a number of different criteria were considered when judging the verges entered for the competition. The overall attractiveness of each verge was the starting point with the innovative use of plants and features such as rock formations, stone carvings, water features and other elements being considered as well. Some of the verges were indigenous and others had special themes. We made an effort to judge each verge in its own right.”
Shaw says that Pam Golding Properties has learnt much from this first year of the competition and is looking for ways of taking it further in future. One new category it plans to introduce next year is ‘Most Improved Verge’, which should encourage more homeowners to work at bettering their verges. Plans are also afoot to develop a separate townhouse and cluster category.
