Lack of a lawn at the front, would it put you off?

2Shy_2 · 7 June 2012 at 10:00PM

Hello.

We are getting ready to put our house on the market in the next couple of weeks.

Neither me or my boyfriend are gardeners, If I am honest I dislike anything to do with gardening, and my boyfriend doesnt care for it either so instead of grass in the front garden we have slate gravel, with a flowerbed, a few bushes and shrubs etc, reason being its easy to look after and maintain.

I am aware that this may possibly put some/most people off as we are the only house with no lawn at the front, we do have a large back garden with a lawn though.

I just wanted to ask if the lack of a lawn at the front would put you off viewing a house?

We dont know if we should leave it as it is now or turf it so it has a lawn, and would like to get it done before putting the house on the market.

Thanks.

phill99 · 7 June 2012 at 10:24PM

Leave it as it is. You would be surprised at the number of people who think
Like you and want a low maintenance option. Just make sure it's net and tidy.

00ec25 · 7 June 2012 at 10:50PM

I agree with phil and would even go further - what's parking like? I don't want a lawn if I can convert it to off road parking instead

boo2410 · 7 June 2012 at 10:56PM

Wouldn't bother me at all. As the others have said so long as it is tidy and looks nice. I wouldn't use the front garden for anything anyway, especially not sitting out, that's what back gardens are for (unless you live in the middle of nowhere and have got privacy).

LandyAndy · 8 June 2012 at 12:13AM

I moved from a house with a front lawn to one with a front mostly tarmacced.

Didn't worry me at all.

paddedjohn · 8 June 2012 at 12:17AM

Front gardend are useless really, you cant use them can you. As already said as long as it looks neat and tidy thats what matters.

sirmosh · 8 June 2012 at 12:45AM

Depends on the buyer, I'm sure there are people who simply wouldn't buy it without grass at the front, but likewise I'm sure there are people who see the lack of lawn there as a bonus. I doubt the majority of people will be too put off either way if the house is right for them.

Millie_Millsters · 8 June 2012 at 7:14AM

I wouldn't mind a house with no front lawn, as long as there are some plants and vegetation but I wouldn't even look at a house where the front just looks like a big car park.

unsure · 8 June 2012 at 7:37AM

Agreed, leave it. If potential buyers are gardeners it'll be a project for them, if not, they'll like how it is now. As long as it looks neat and tidy it should be fine.

Smart buyers look a the potential as well: maybe it's a possible parking space (useful and can add value in some areas).

You might find some people will try to use it as a bargaining chip, but buying and selling is always a bit of a haggle.

I bought a house with a messy overgrown half-finished front garden and a broken wall knowing I was getting it a knock down price because other potential buyers had been put off. Doing the front garden ( gravel and small beds inside reclaimed wrought iron fence and gate) cost me a few hundred pounds and a few weekends of work but put thousands on the price of the house which sold a few years later at full asking price without ever officially going on the market.

sammyjammy · 8 June 2012 at 8:06AM

It wouldn't particularly attract me as it is but as a gardener I would want to do my own thing with it anyway so definitely leave it as it is, as long as its tidy, it wouldn't put me off at all.

Southend1 · 8 June 2012 at 8:17AM

I hate gardening. I once had a house with a back lawn and a flower bed and it was so annoying, having extra chores to do on top of the housework. My current house is paved front and back and I love it! The only maintenance needed is pulling the odd weed up. If I could afford a gardener I would like to have some greenery but as I can't I'd much rather have the low maintenance option. So I would say leave it as is.