Can a garden add value to your home?

If you are selling a property with outdoor space or a garden, it’s time to give these some TLC. Neat and tidy gardens look much better in the photographs and colourful garden photographs can often act as click bait online to get more people to look at your property listing. 

They say first impressions count and that is certainly true when it comes to marketing and selling property. The presentation of your front garden, porch or drive is important from the point of view of selling your property quickly, efficiently and at the best possible price.

The first photographs that appear on Rightmove, Zoopla and estate agent websites are often the front facing view of the property and these can determine if the browsing buyer will be enticed to click through to read the full property details.

Is your garden south facing or south west facing?

Make sure this information is included in the property description and that photographs are taken with this added bonus in mind. A number of buyers are set on buying a property that is facing a certain direction, with south and southwest facing properties benefitting from afternoon and evening light.

At Hill’s we make sure we take the best possible photographs of the front of your property and encourage and guide our sellers on ways you can improve the first impression look. 

We also know which of our registered buyers are looking for a property with a certain type of garden or outdoor space so will always make sure they are contacted first of all when a property comes up that matches their requirements.

Not only is it important to give off the right impression, your garden or outdoor space can in fact also add value to your property. As outdoor or garden spaces have become more appreciated and in very high demand since the pandemic, you can add value by landscaping, adding decking or adding lighting.

How much value a garden or outdoor space can add to your property depends on several things

These include local demand and the state of your outdoor space. Different research reports varying figures around how much house prices can be positively affected by having a garden or outdoor space. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

According to a survey carried out by Post Office Money in 2020, the average Brit spends 86 minutes gardening a week and this is time well spent, as research suggests that a neat and tidy piece of outdoor space could add as much as 20% to the value of your property.

Even if you don’t spend that amount of time attending to your garden, or have an extravagant garden that blooms in all seasons, there is no need to worry. Simple, easy to maintain gardens can in fact help to sell a home faster than those with over-complicated or high-maintenance gardens according to research.

How much should I invest in home improvements?

Home improvements took on a pace of its own during the pandemic lockdowns, and the study compared the investment levels of different types of building or home improvements. The study showed that doing up your garden could add more value to the property than possible a new kitchen, a conservatory or even an extension.

The estimated cost of garden landscaping can be £2,750 for the homeowner, compared to an extension that can cost up to £80,000 according to the study so it is easy to see that garden our outdoor space improvement can be a more manageable investment that can still reap the rewards when it comes to selling your home. 

Another survey carried out by AA in 2021 found that having a garden space can raise your property’s value by 5%. This study looked at homes with and without gardens in 30 towns and cities across the country to see where gardens are valued the most.

This study looked at the average house prices of properties with up  to three bedrooms. Overall, the average home was valued at £209,525. The price of same size homes that had gardens averaged £220,555 – so a price difference of £11,000. The top locations for the price hike with gardens included Walsall, where a house is worth 16% more if it had a garden; Sunderland with 15%more; and Liverpool with 11% more. 

And while the study reported that property prices for homes with gardens were not increasing by nearly as much in many cities, the study showed that 57% of Brits said that they would look for a house or property that had a garden after living in a house without one.

Can a garden office add value to my home?

Furthermore, we know that the shift in working from home for many of us during the pandemic has not reverted fully back to office work, with many people opting for hybrid working solutions where and if possible. Home offices were created inside homes across the country and there was a trend for building garden offices if the outdoor space of your property allowed for it.

A garden office is another way to add both appeal and value to your home. Homes with garden offices are in demand and this trend is not set to reverse. Or did you perhaps use your outdoor space to add your very own Garden Bar?

Whatever you have created to maximise your outdoor space, if you are thinking of selling your home now or in the future, it is certainly favourable to look after it, maintain it and keep it looking tidy and inviting.

If it’s a property with a glorious garden in Salford or Greater Manchester you are looking for, have a look at our property listings on our website – we have some fantastic properties for sale with beautiful gardens. 

Are you looking for advice on what to do with your outdoor space in order to add value to your property? Speak to one of our team who will be happy to share insight and give the best recommendations for your home.

Find the contact details of your nearest Hill’s team in Salford, Eccles or Swinton – go to Call Us on our homepage  – https://www.hills.agency/ 

And don’t forget, this time of the year – with gardens in bloom – is an optimum time to take stunning property photographs, so it’s a great time to put your house on the market.

If you are looking to find out the value of your home, you can book a free valuation via our website or book in with our team.

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