Add value? Traditional cottage garden or tropical palms & decking?

mlz1413

There is a new type of decking out that comes with a 25 yr guarantee not to rot but decking is slippy in the wet and icey weather so if you need to walk over it to get to the garden beware!

Cottage gardens don't go out of fashion and look lovely IF well cared for - but as many have already pointed out what market are you aiming for?

Decking and the contempory look will be out of fashion soon and will age the garden the same as pink & grey decoration aged in the 80's - BUT if this is something you love and will make a difference to while you live there then have it.

All in all you have to decide on how long you will live at the house and so how much use you will get verus how much you are spending. If you are doing this purely to make if more saleable then a really well kept lawn with a pots of flowers, a bird bath/table and bench will give the look of a space the buyer can really do what THEY want with.

joflo_2

Well, flowers and a nice lawn always look attractive. I would spend the least amount you can. My parents redid a whole front garden with a parking area and spent loads of time and money making the front look nice and the next people changed it completely. So don't worry too much. Put into it what you would like.

spuds_2

It depends on your target market. Older couples will probably prefer a more traditional garden, whilst younger ones will go for fewer but larger plants or bamboo.

Decking is ok and looks modern, but both paving and decks need pressure washing to stop them getting mossy and slippy. If it is a family house, keep as much grass as you can - don't over-do the patio areas.

I think that whatever style of garden you have, the most important thing when selling is to keep it super-tidy, toys away, washing taken in, not strewn with old pots, or overgrown.

Blacksheep1979

I think palms look a bit tacky n chavvy tbh

northerner79

My opinion is that it won't add as much value as you spend on it. People like to make their own changes and put their own mark on a house. NOt many things add more value than they cost. You may spend 10k on a conservatory, it may add 2k in value! A house is for you to enjoy as well as an investment!! But does it really matter if house prices go up or down if you can afford it? Unless you are downsizing or have a second home, MP's please??!!

Davesnave

The style of a garden should suit your target buyer and the type of house. If you are unsure enough to be asking on here, I'd play safe and create a middle-of-the road type of garden which suits your maintenance needs.

This will probably include somewhere to relax, like a patio, and it might have an 'open' area, such as a lawn too. Small lawns are not very practical, but if your buyers are likely to have kids, they will want one, if only for the swing/trampoline/other hazardous plaything.

Frankly, not much else matters from a sales POV, as long as it looks non-threatening. A tidy, colourful garden will certainly help to sell a house, and if unsightly things/nerighbours' windows can be screened, so much the better. Keen gardeners will immediately plan to rip lots of stuff out, while those with no interest will be glad to see something that won't take time away from whatever alternatives they have in mind.

In January 2008, I was forced to try selling with much of my garden a blank slate where the lawns should have been. There was also a very ugly raised concrete pond. Several viewers commented that there was 'far too much to do' outside, so as the weather warmed-up, DW and I did some landscaping. It cost about £400. By April we had it licked, and in June we joined in an open garden day. The house sold then.

Incidentally, we used a lot of large planters to create moveable effects. Things like large bamboos aren't cheap, so make sure you can take them with you!

ILW

The best way to add value, would be to leave the garden alone but move the house to Chelsea or Mayfair.

moneysaver12

I think that cottage garden would be best. My and my fiance have been looking for someone else to rent and there was some nice houses but they had gravel in the back garden which put us off as we wanted a lawned garden.

Hippychick

cottage garden sounds nicer, i'm not a big fan of spikey plants I always think i'll end up having my eye poked out if I walk too close by accident!

superfran_uk

Cottage garden. My sister's landlord put in decking and palms...boy are those things a bloomin nuisance, the fronds get everywhere when they fall off in winter. A cottage garden would also take much less looking after.

HOWEVER I wouldn't count on either 'adding value'. Most people want to put their own stamp on a place and the garden is a natural place to start. You don't know their taste, and unless you're psychic it's 50/50 that you'll get it wrong!