We're discussing one of the property market’s burning questions: how valuable is a well-maintained garden when selling or letting a property?
Getting buyers through the door
Read more on the power of property photography to generate more viewings.
Good property photography attracts viewing requests. Outside space is a great asset in a property sale or let, so you'll want yours to look its best.
If you have a Foxtons Property Photographer scheduled, we strongly recommend you weed the garden and declutter. Hide any bins, stacks of flowerpots and bags of compost; tidy away the kids’ toys and the washing on the line.
If you’ve got time, you’ll be surprised how well a fresh coat of paint can transform a space.
You can also draw attention to your property ad by dotting a few fresh flowers around your home in hanging baskets, window baskets or plant pots. Just be sure to keep it simple. Like with interior property photography, a blank canvas is better for viewings than clutter.
Photo: a pop of colour makes eye-catching kerb appeal in this image by Foxtons Specialist Photography team.
Selling the space
If you’re starting property viewings and you want a bit more wow-factor, head for the annuals. You'll want annuals with a long flowering season, like heat-loving lantana to spice up a perennial border that'll look a bit tired in the summer sun, or shade-loving impatiens in a basket to brighten your doorstep and welcome buyers into your home.
Potted plants are also handy for moving. Maybe you’ve got your eye on a lavender that will provide a soothing scent during viewings and a memorable pop of colour. Then, once the contracts are exchanged, you’ve got a growing feature for your new garden.
See some of the best plants for a house sale in: 6 things to plant now for kerb appeal.
Providing that something special
London in Bloom: see the added value of flowering trees.
If you have a special feature, like a pergola or pond, it might add value to your property for the right buyer. After a day of property viewings, it might be just the thing that makes yours stand out to the buyer.
However, it really depends on the buyer’s preferences. For example, water features can signal additional maintenance costs to buyers with the price of chemicals, electricity, cleaning and insurance. But if the buyer has always dreamed of their own Jacuzzi under the stars, yours might seal the deal for them.
Photo: beautiful wooden decking turns this back garden into a private oasis (photo by Foxtons Specialist Photography team).
The planted menace
There are plants that can diminish home value because they are costly to remove and destructive to the property. For instance, fast-acting Japanese Knotwood, wide-rooted trees like poplar and oak and the creeping tendrils of English ivy could adversely affect your value. But put down those garden sheers, in some cases – like with Japanese Knotwood – you’ll need a professional. And in some cases, it might be best to call in a surveyor first.
Rent a home, not a project
For our landlords, we recommend an easy, durable garden design. Homes with outdoor space are in high demand, but if you are not going to hire a professional gardener for your rental, and your tenants don’t happen to be avid plant lovers, low-maintenance is key. You’ll want perennials that keep coming back, slow-growing shrubs for year-round colour, maybe some paving stones instead of grassy expanses.
Read more insight in: 5 tips to maximise your rental property listing
Zen mode or backache?
When deciding to do any work on a property you’re planning to sell, whether it’s interior renovations, constructing a garden room or investing in your garden, we suggest you keep it simple…
You never know what a buyer is going to want, whether they’ll pay an extra £10k for a glamorous modernised kitchen or they want to rip up that flowering hedgerow you’ve worked so hard to cultivate to make room for their new paved patio.
Photo: Flowers on the island and table connect the kitchen and garden beyond - showing the incredible impact of a few choice blooms in a clean and tidy space(photo by Foxtons Specialist Photography team).
The best garden for you
Growing interest in landscaped gardens: In 2017, 38% of new build sales included access to outside space. By 2022, it rose to 73%.
- The London Report, pg 12
Some of us love digging in the dirt, coaxing new life from the London clay. For others, gardening reminds us to call the GP about that dodgy knee...
So, when we look at the value a garden brings to a property, it is inherently personal to each buyer - the garden you're willing to pay more for, the space that fits your lifestyle and makes the most of your free time, depends on your priorities.
Foxtons have properties on the market with every kind of garden: balcony gardens, tiled courtyards, lush lawns, urban jungles, communal landscapes... If your current garden isn't quite the one of your dreams, take a look at our homes with outdoor space.
