The garden upgrades that can add the most value
The garden upgrades that can add almost £9K to your home’s value this summer
With summer traditionally one of the busiest periods for the property market, new research from Yopa reveals that adding a garden room or home office could boost the value of the average UK home by almost £9,000 after costs, making it the most profitable outdoor upgrade for sellers this summer.
Outdoor space becomes particularly important to buyers during the warmer months, with many prospective purchasers paying close attention to how a garden can be used for work, entertaining and relaxation. As a result, sellers investing in the right outdoor features could see a significant return when they hit the market.
Yopa analysed the estimated value added by a range of popular garden improvements based on the current average UK house price of £278,880*, before comparing this uplift against the estimated cost of completing the work.
Garden room / home office = £8,916 value boost
The research found that a garden room or home office offers the strongest potential return overall. While the average installation cost is estimated at around £12,000, a garden office adds an average of 7.5% to a property’s value. This is equivalent to £20,916 which, after accounting for the cost, leaves homeowners with a potential net gain of £8,916.
Summer house = £8,155 value boost
A basic prefabricated summer house also performs strongly, with the potential to add £11,155 in value at an estimated installation cost of £3,000. This leaves homeowners with an average potential gain of £8,155.
Landscaping = £7,150 value boost
Meanwhile, investing in a landscaped garden adds an average of 4.5% to a home’s value, equivalent to £12,550. After estimated landscaping costs of £5,400, homeowners could still stand to gain around £7,150 overall.
Patio / decking = £6,792 value boost
Patios and decking also remain highly attractive to buyers seeking functional outdoor entertaining space during the summer months. Yopa’s analysis shows that adding an average 40 square metre patio or decking area could increase property value by 4.3%, creating an estimated £6,792 boost after costs.
Garden storage = £5,222 value boost
Even smaller and more affordable additions can provide a worthwhile uplift. Adding a garden shed or dedicated storage area could increase a property’s value by 2.5%, generating an estimated gain of £5,222 once installation costs are taken into account.
Features designed around outdoor entertaining also continue to appeal to modern buyers. An outdoor garden bar could add 2.6% to the value of a home, while outdoor kitchens, BBQ islands and fire pit areas all have the potential to enhance buyer appeal during summer viewings.
At the other end of the scale, larger projects such as conservatories and outdoor kitchens can still add substantial headline value, although higher installation costs reduce the overall financial return.
The full list of improvements
- Garden room/home office: +£8,916
- Summer house: +£8,155
- Landscaped garden: +£7,150
- Patio/decking: +£6,792
- Garden shed/storage: +£5,222
- Garden bar: +£3,257
- Conservatory: +£3,127
- Outdoor kitchen (midrange): +£3,117
- BBQ island/fire pit: +£1,847
- Hot tub: +£1,616
Verona Frankish, Chief Executive Officer at Yopa, commented:
“Summer is one of the best times to sell a home because buyers naturally place greater emphasis on outdoor space and how it can be enjoyed. A well presented garden can help buyers emotionally connect with a property far more quickly during a viewing.
What’s particularly interesting is that some of the most valuable improvements are not necessarily the most expensive. Buyers are increasingly looking for practical and versatile outdoor features that extend the living space of a home, whether that’s a garden office, a landscaped entertaining area or simply attractive low maintenance outdoor space.
For homeowners considering selling this summer, even relatively modest garden upgrades can make a meaningful difference when it comes to attracting buyers and maximising the value of a sale.”
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