Would you fill in this pond?

Grenage

Hi Guys,

We're looking to move this year, so I've spent the last 8 months redecorating the house from top to bottom (new carpets, painted and decorated, refurbing the kitchen, et cetera). The front garden has already been made decent, and I'm nearly done on the inside; the back garden is all that remains.

I love ponds, so I had no problem with it when purchasing the house - but it's quite big for the garden, and right in the middle. My Gut tells me that as a three bedroom for under 200k, it's ideal for first-time buyers with a family in mind. Families entail children and a desire to make use of the garden, so many people won't want a big pond that doubles as a watery grave.

I've considered getting rid of the inhabitants and filling the pond, but as goldfish are so prolific, I'm unlikely to be able to give them away. This will leave me with the choice of leaving it there, or emptying the left-hand flower bed, digging down a bit and moving the pond there - it would be out of the way, and have higher sides. Moving it will be a week's work, and my other reckons I'm over-thinking it, and that any buyer would just deal with it as they see fit.

I'd appreciate the thoughts of someone less neurotic than myself...

Russell.

divadee

Personally I would get rid of it completely. For a family there is no real useable 'play' space. It would put me off the house straight away. Sorry!

pickles13

I agree with divadee. Having a toddler, this would instantly put me off the house.

fairy_lights

It pretty much dominates the garden and doesn't leave any room for a lawn or seating area so I'd get rid of it.
Even people who love ponds probably wouldn't want a pond that's smack bang in the middle of the garden like that so it won't be any great loss.

martinsurrey

fish and chips for lunch, a dumpy bag of top soil, a few bedding plants, three hours and one raised bed flower bed later, you're done.

pondskater_2

If you google fish rescues you might find someone who will be willing to rehome the fish. I had to do this myself when some of my aquarium fish got too big.

Paully232000

If i was looking at houses in your area, this would put me off buying it due to the size of the pond and realistically leaving me no garden space, and the safety having two children, aged 5 and under 2.

However, if the house was perfect in every other way, and there weren't any other similar houses in the area it wouldn't be so much of an issue but if there were other similar houses, yours would go to the end of the list.

So, in answer to your question, yes i would remove it.

fairy_lights

martinsurrey wrote: »

fish and chips for lunch, a dumpy bag of top soil, a few bedding plants, three hours and one raised bed flower bed later, you're done.

It would still be a huge obstacle in the middle of the garden though if he made it in to a raised flower bed. Better to knock it down completely I'd think.
Or leave it as it is but adjust the asking price to reflect the cost a buyer might have to pay to get rid of it.

divadee

If the house is all done like you say it is, I would wonder why you have scrimped on the back garden if you leave it. It would make me think what else you might of scrimped on as a buyer. Make the garden as perfect as the house.

It really would sell quicker and be better to remove it and have a turfed area so kids can play on it.

Bean83

Another vote here for getting rid! I know any potential buyers could remove the pond themselves, but I'd take one look at that and think 'what a pointless garden, no space to do anything'. Removing the pond and turfing the space but would make it look much bigger and more attractive, and make me much more likely to go and view the house.

martinsurrey

fairy_lights wrote: »

It would still be a huge obstacle in the middle of the garden though if he made it in to a raised flower bed. Better to knock it down completely I'd think.
Or leave it as it is but adjust the asking price to reflect the cost a buyer might have to pay to get rid of it.

Yeah, but a lot more buyers would look at a raised bed and think about removing it after they bought, than would if faced with a pond which would be a straight "no".