What a dirty driveway is actually costing you

Almost nobody mentions the driveway when they talk about what affects a home's value, yet it's one of the first things anyone sees when they arrive.

Ask most homeowners what hurts a property's value, and they'll talk about kitchens, bathrooms, and extensions. Almost nobody mentions the driveway. Yet it's one of the first things anyone sees when they arrive, whether they're a buyer, a surveyor, or just a neighbour walking past.

The numbers behind kerb appeal

A survey of UK homeowners by the HomeOwners Alliance found that more than two thirds (68%) said kerb appeal was an important factor in their own choice of home. Evolution Money's research of 2,000 UK residents found that 93% of people judge a property purely on how it looks from the outside, before anyone's even opened the front door. RICS has stated that strong kerb appeal can increase a property's selling price by as much as 10%.

Why driveways get overlooked

Driveways don't fail all at once. Moss, algae, oil stains, and general grime build up gradually, which means most homeowners simply stop seeing it. Left untreated, moss and algae aren't just unsightly, they can make the surface slippery and, over time, contribute to cracking as growth works into small gaps and joints. What starts as a cleaning job can quietly turn into a repair job if it's left too long.

A small job that punches above its weight

Compared to resurfacing or any kind of driveway repair work, a professional jet wash is a fast, low-disruption way to reset the appearance of your whole property frontage. Most driveways can be transformed in a single visit. It's also one of those jobs that photographs well, which matters if you're planning to sell, since listings on Rightmove and Zoopla live or die by that first exterior photo. See our Exterior Care page for the full range of what we offer.

Need your driveway looking its best? Get your free quote here.

Sources: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); HomeOwners Alliance / YouGov; Evolution Money UK kerb appeal survey.