Can a good garden help you sell your house? Great Britain is a nation of garden lovers and, according to the Office for National Statistics, 87% of households in Great Britain have access to a private or shared garden - so it’s fair to assume that having one comes high on our list of priorities when buying a new property.
But what do people really want in a garden? And what are the things that turn them off? If you are thinking of selling your home, and looking at properties to buy, it’s worth knowing what the most desired and least liked outdoor characteristics and features are, to get you the best sale possible.
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How much can a garden add to your asking price?
A Post Office Money survey in 2020 reported that landscaping your garden could potentially increase the value of your property by a whopping 77%, and although no-one seems to be quoting such high figures now, the estate agents we spoke to agreed that having a well-designed and cared-for garden can add between 15% and 20% to the asking price.
Savills director Robin Chatwin believes that in his area in south-west London, where space is at a premium, the price advantage can increase by about £1,000 for every square metre of garden.
When it comes to things buyers are looking for, a sunny, south-facing garden will always command a premium, although any garden is better than none.
When it comes to making changes that will benefit both you and any future buyers, perhaps above all, a degree of sensitivity and feeling are the best bets. Garden designer Miria Harris says, “If you make a garden that you love, that will show. It will make your house more attractive to buyers and enhance its value. Aim to invest in good quality landscaping materials that will stand the test of time and only get better with age. Then, even if your paving isn’t to your buyer’s taste later on, they can always take a sustainable route by lifting it for reclamation by somebody else.”
What house buyers look for in a garden
A tidy, well cared-for space
While fancy features like treehouses or garden bars are talking points, a garden that is well cared for is definitely what buyers look for first. “Unkempt, overgrown space is very off-putting,” says Shaun Bailey, a London-based director for Foxtons.
So, if you are planning to sell, before showing the house make sure to scoop up any clutter, mend and stain fences, clean pathways, trim bushes and trees, weed borders and spruce up the lawn.
A well designed garden
Beyond these basics, buyers need to be able to imagine themselves relaxing and enjoying themselves in your garden. “Can you add value by having your garden designed? Yes, nine times out of ten you can, simply by creating versatile, usable spaces that everyone can relate to,” says garden designer Gavin McWilliam.
“Many people see their garden as another room,” says designer Robert Myers.
“Prioritise the area in the immediate vicinity of the house, and look to create destinations that will give you a reason to walk right through the garden and get different viewpoints back to the property.”
Designer Harry Holding emphasises the connection between house and garden too: “Bring planting right up to the house so that you get that wow moment when you arrive,” he says.
An outdoor room
“Many people see their garden as another room,” says designer Robert Myers. “They want to have that flow from one to the other and to create opportunities for being sociable outside,” he says. “Semi-covered areas – such as a verandah or a loggia - can offer generous, usable entertaining or games space in the shoulder seasons. I have one client with a table tennis table under theirs, another with an outdoor kitchen area.”
Privacy
Privacy is a priority, whether you are a celebrity with acreage or a city flat dweller with a roof garden. Estate agent Robin Chatwin says that in urban areas people will certainly pay a premium for a garden that offers privacy from the neighbours, prioritising a wide plot or a deep front garden that helps keeps prying eyes from their windows.
And this applies in rural areas too. “Being overlooked can really put people off a property,” says Jonathan Handford, Managing Director of Fine & Country. He even had one client who expressed their desire to ride their horse in their pyjamas. In towns and cities, most of us have more modest ambitions, however, and if there are no existing trees and bushes to provide the privacy you need, you can always put some in.
Six features buyers are currently looking for
Garden room
As for garden features that buyers are asking for, a garden room is a definite plus, as a work space or home gym. Demand may have peaked during lockdowns but they are still popular now and designs for them are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Outdoor kitchen
Another area that continues to grow is outdoor kitchens – one London supplier reported record-breaking business, and garden designers say clients usually ask about them.
Saunas or bathtub
Two nascent trends we’ve spotted over the past year are garden saunas and garden bathtubs, though the jury is out on whether either are things buyers are seeking. Hot tubs are a novelty for some people, but a turn-off for others.
Orchard or wildflower meadow
If you have acres to play with, at the high end of the market, orchards and wildflower meadows are en vogue.
Veg patch and greenhouse
For keen gardeners, space to grow produce is much valued and a greenhouse is seen as a bonus.
A real lawn
Artificial grass comes with considerable environmental drawbacks, and doesn’t deliver on the low maintenance lifestyle it promises. A real lawn is eminently more attractive to most people these days.
Are pools and ponds attractive to house buyers?
Water can either turn house buyers on or off. In larger properties, a swimming pool, even a lake, can be a great draw but for those who don’t see themselves using it regularly it will be viewed as a money sink. Many people, including top designers and gardeners we spoke to, dream of having a natural swimming pond where they can combine being in nature and providing habitat with their daily exercise.
Agents report that parents with young children are justifiably wary of water features like ponds, but for older children water can be seen as an attraction. In small city gardens, where owners are seeking a tranquil haven away from work, a water feature with a soothing, flowing fountain is viewed as a definite plus.
Other things to consider before you buy
Of course, changes of all sorts are always possible once you have bought a property, but some come at a high price, so it is wise when house-hunting to aim to buy the kind of site you want to live in, and that will be compatible with your desired lifestyle. There are some key considerations that may influence your house-buying choices.
Slopes
“A slope will need terracing if you want flat areas for entertaining or for children to play on and the costs of that can be high,” says Gavin McWilliam. “I had two clients who actually decided to move house when they realised that the sloping gardens they had bought were never going to suit their particular needs.”
Mature trees
In the same way, existing mature trees can provide wonderful shelter and privacy but bear in mind that they might be subject to conservation issues (including Tree Preservation Orders, or TPOs) that could put restrictions on changes that you might want to consider in future.
Kids
People with children should think about adaptable spaces that can change as they grow, rather than built elements in a garden, such as custom play centre, wendy house or in-ground trampoline. Harry Holding firmly believes that there is no need to splash out on expensive play equipment. “Young children need a lawn to run about on and natural play opportunities with tactile materials such as a carefully placed tree trunk to climb on,” he says.
Robert Myers agrees: “They are only children for so long, so fixed infrastructure is unnecessary. Adaptable, playable space is what they need – perhaps a slope to roll down, a boulder to clamber over or a corner where they can build a den.”
But if you are selling, the final word, and piece of advice, comes from Robin Chatwin, Director at Savills, who recommends remembering some more obvious things before you do your open house. “If you’ve gone to the trouble of sprucing up your garden to sell your house, clean the windows so buyers can actually see it!”
Do say: “And here is our very private, well cared for garden with garden room and outdoor kitchen.”
Don’t say: “The fence is broken and the Japanese knotweed is growing up through the artificial grass, but we don’t go out there much to be honest.”
