How do gardens add value to your house price?
As more and more people have started working from home, the demand for a property with a garden has increased tremendously. Be it first time buyers or homeowners looking to upgrade their houses; most buyers are looking to buy a house with a garden. So whether you’re looking for a house for sale in Orpington or you’re interested in renovating your current house, the first thing on everyone’s mind is a garden!
Why have gardens suddenly become so popular?
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK underwent multiple lockdowns, during which people were forced to stay inside their homes. While the lockdown restrictions were reduced, most employees were still working from home! People were now looking for a place to get out of their homes, enjoy some fresh air and maybe just stretch their legs – this is how the demand for gardens increased drastically in the UK in the past few months. While some homeowners decided to sell their properties to move into the suburbs where they could afford bigger homes with spacious gardens, others decided to follow a let-to-let system where they put their home on rent and moved into a bigger and better property on rent. Renters chose to shift out of their city-centre flats and move into detached and semi-detached properties in the suburbs, as these were relatively cheaper and often had private gardens. In fact, some homeowners even decided to construct patios and terrace gardens during the pandemic just so that they could have a place to go out and relax.
Do gardens add value to your house price?
Without a doubt, gardens can increase the valuation of your property tremendously! The right garden can increase the price of your property by 5 to 20 per cent, depending on the size of the garden, the location of the property and so on. According to a survey, 62 per cent of potential buyers said that having an outdoor space or a garden is very important when it comes to finding the right property. According to some data collected by AXA in 2017, homeowners in East Anglian who spend around £511 annually on their garden can increase the value of their property by £2,306. In areas such as Humber and Yorkshire, residents who spend around £507 annually on their garden can increase the value of their property by £1,131.
Will the demand for gardens continue to increase in the future?
According to Rightmove, 60 per cent of potential buyers said that having access to a garden was very important to them. And, this number is expected to increase shortly. As per a survey carried out by the Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors, it is expected that the demand for properties with a garden will increase in the next 2 years. In city centres and prime locations like London, a property with a garden, or even a terrace garden, will have a very high valuation. On the other hand, in the boroughs and suburbs where most houses have gardens, the valuation of the property will depend on the size of the garden, the landscaping, the features of the garden and so on. However, it is safe to say that a garden will add to the property’s value, be it in the city centre or the suburb.
How to improve that garden to add to the value of the house?
Focus on landscaping
Landscaping is a great way to beautify the garden and make it look presentable for potential buyers. The first thing to do is get rid of the weeds and create fencing or barricades to show off the garden space. Trimming the hedges, mowing the lawn and planting shrubs and flowers will also add to the overall impact. However, it is essential to remember that the landscaping needs to be clean and simple. If a buyer feels that the garden requires too much work, they might be less interested in the property.
Create a seating area
If you’ve got a garden next to the patio, you can add some chairs and loungers to the patio. If you only have the garden space, you can place some lawn chairs and maybe a huge lawn umbrella to enjoy those sunny winter afternoons. By adding some seating to the garden, not only are you making it beautiful, but you’re also allowing the potential buyer to envision themselves in the garden, sitting with their family and enjoying the space.
Make different zones in the garden
One great way to add value to your home, and your garden, is by dividing the garden into separate zones. For example, one zone could be a vegetable garden along with a small herb garden. Another zone could be the seating zone, where you have a few lawn chairs or some loungers. Another zone could be a play area for the kids, and so on.
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