How much can a garden increase the value of your property?

RockPaperScissors

Hi all,

I was just wondering if any of you could point me to any recent articles/research around how much of an impact garden improvement can have on the value of your property?

It's actually research for something I'm doing at work so I'm after some really good factual examples and figures as opposed to thoughts and opinions.

Found a few bits through Google but I know there's lots of knowledgeable property peeps here and thought some of you may be able to poke me towards something good!

CLAPTON

obviously there are no facts and figures on this matter as it would be impossible to determine the real selling price of an individual property before and after garden renovation in isolation to the general change in the market

however, property professional may or may not have thoughts and opinions

RockPaperScissors

Thanks Clapton,

Yes I was assuming that may be the case. In that case any personal opinion or experience from people would be also hugely appreciated. For example those that may have made improvements during house sale etc.

Such a tricky one to pin down

lostinrates

Garden? Makeover or land value?

Plan it rules might be relevant......planning permission and changes in development guidlines and approaches in a garden in a nearby town here has made the not huge garden available on the market at the price of £350k as a site for one house in the centre of a very prized small town address where the council had protected for years and are now encouraging good new building and brownfield development.

Generali

RockPaperScissors wrote: »

Thanks Clapton,

Yes I was assuming that may be the case. In that case any personal opinion or experience from people would be also hugely appreciated. For example those that may have made improvements during house sale etc.

Such a tricky one to pin down

FWIW, my feeling is that unless it's a large garden or a really expensive house or both then there will be little return.

I think the way to look at it is this: in your target market, how much extra do you think people would be prepared to pay for a fancy garden? To give an example, a swimming pool supposedly reduces the value of a cheap house as people at the lower end of the market don't want the expense of maintaining a pool however if someone is spending perhaps £500k+, the cost of pool maintenance is likely to be minimal against the cost of the house itself.

Someone buying a £150,000 house might see a flash garden as something nice to have but not a necessity. Someone spending £1,000,000 might think it necessary.

In a commuter town, people might pay a little extra for a garden that is already sorted and just needs maintenance I suppose.

greatgimpo

I don't think you'll get your facts and figures accurately, if at all. A garden may increase desirability, if nothing else.

lostinrates

Generali wrote: »

FWIW, my feeling is that unless it's a large garden or a really expensive house or both then there will be little return.

I think the way to look at it is this: in your target market, how much extra do you think people would be prepared to pay for a fancy garden? To give an example, a swimming pool supposedly reduces the value of a cheap house as people at the lower end of the market don't want the expense of maintaining a pool however if someone is spending perhaps £500k+, the cost of pool maintenance is likely to be minimal against the cost of the house itself.

Someone buying a £150,000 house might see a flash garden as something nice to have but not a necessity. Someone spending £1,000,000 might think it necessary.

In a commuter town, people might pay a little extra for a garden that is already sorted and just needs maintenance I suppose.

This. Or, garden space at front, over.....off street parking.....? Seems could be a negative price impact in many cases. However, the off street parking space of previous garden usage would add significant value. Especially in areas where councils don't want to grant any more dropped curbs or lose more green space.

Now whilst some people like me would try to combine green space and garden through use of things like grass paving grids and some lanscaping I see that the same as decor in a house.....choice, and possibility saleability rather than actual value.


Some things might add value.

We just put a land drain in for usability. In some places they might add to maintaining structure of the house or stopping flooding by keeping areas dry. A house that doesn't flood is not going to be devalued as much as the neighbours house that did though it will still fall with in a flood range, and there is only so much even serious garden landscaping can cope with.

shop-to-drop

I think in certain circumstances it would add value but not all. If it's a large expensive house but the garden is on the small side then spending money making the garden look it's best would be money well spent for instance. In general though size of the garden is what impresses us when we are looking and evaluating whether if it worth the asking price.

RockPaperScissors

Thanks guys - really useful points and gives me something to go back with as to why this wasn't an amazing idea to look at in the first place.

It seems very heavily down to personal preference as to what will be "valuable" for the buyer. For me, for instance, a huge selling point of our house was that the garden was south facing meaning we could fill the garden with veg. I settled for a smaller size just for that fact.

I am assuming I've been asked to research this based on the view point of a makeover as opposed to anything particularly solid or structural. In which case I agree that it may only improve the impressions of the house as opposed to having a huge impact on value or asking prices.

lostinrates

RockPaperScissors wrote: »

Thanks guys - really useful points and gives me something to go back with as to why this wasn't an amazing idea to look at in the first place.

It seems very heavily down to personal preference as to what will be "valuable" for the buyer. For me, for instance, a huge selling point of our house was that the garden was south facing meaning we could fill the garden with veg. I settled for a smaller size just for that fact.

I am assuming I've been asked to research this based on the view point of a makeover as opposed to anything particularly solid or structural. In which case I agree that it may only improve the impressions of the house as opposed to having a huge impact on value or asking prices.

Remember, we are nameless idiots on a forum. . We might all be wrong. .


I'd add to this research by looking for houses for sale on same streets. Look at if the west and south facing ones have premiums. Its aspect rather than garden, but some thing to consider.


I'd also look for streets where some have outshot ding gardens used as selling points and some don't and look at impact this might have.


What is the nature of your course? This might ( wrongly IMO) impact on what the lecturer is looking for from you. I.e. A horticulture course is pretty much going to want you to say....' Yes this course is worth while ' but its ok not to, and reason they must make the course valuable to you!

RockPaperScissors

lostinrates wrote: »

Remember, we are nameless idiots on a forum. . We might all be wrong. .


I'd add to this research by looking for houses for sale on same streets. Look at if the west and south facing ones have premiums. Its aspect rather than garden, but some thing to consider.


I'd also look for streets where some have outshot ding gardens used as selling points and some don't and look at impact this might have.


What is the nature of your course? This might ( wrongly IMO) impact on what the lecturer is looking for from you. I.e. A horticulture course is pretty much going to want you to say....' Yes this course is worth while ' but its ok not to, and reason they must make the course valuable to you!

hahaha nameless idiots maybe, but more wise than I am regardless!

It's actually work as opposed to a course. Need to put together some content around how much a nice garden can affect the value of your home. May just end up being more of an opinion piece though.

Checking out some house listings is a great idea though! I'll have a wee trawl around and see what I can dig up :beer: