Would a block-built shed/workshop add much value to property?

pjapk

I'm desperate for a shed or, preferably more of a small workshop, in the garden but I'm curious if it (obviously if well-built etc.) would add much/any value to the property helping to justify the construction cost.

I'm in a basic mid-terrace property (so can't be used as garage) and would be considering something 12' by 8' or so (could go wider than 8' but 12' is definitely the longest I could go.

Would a local estate agent offer the best advice?

Hermia

I think this would depend entirely on the buyer. My old neighbour had a workshop in his garden and it put a LOT of buyers off. It took up a third of the garden and most buyers would rather had had the garden than a building they had no use for. It did sell eventually to a guy who wanted somewhere to put his gym equipment. If you go ahead I would choose a design that is neutral and versatile. I think one of the problems with my neighbour's workshop is that it was very industrial looking. Maybe if it had looked nicer a family could have imagined turning it into a play room etc.

pjapk

Thanks, a very useful insight that I hadn't considered. My main requirement is for it to be secure so I wouldn't want large/patio-type windows which would otherwise turn it into a kind of summer-house, but I can at least consider such ideas for the plan/construction of it to at least allow such conversions (i.e. avoid creating anything critical below windows so they could be cut/extended downwards in the future...

SamsReturn

If it were well built i think many people would like something like that. If they were self-employed and worked from home, it could be an office, oreven a workshop for their business. Where i am now i've got a big garden and enjoy gardening, but my last house only had a small garden but at the time i hated gardening and thought it was to big.

I_have_spoken

Sheds with beds are much desired in the south east

Norman_Castle

Divide the cost by the number of years you expect to live there then decide if its worth it. It depends on future buyers how much they value an outside building. A good quality wooden or metal shed could be an option as these can be either moved to a new property or sold when moving.

kaya

insulate it, add some windows and running water with electric and it could be seen as an extra room, depends what level you are going to build it to

Grenage

How big is your garden?

TheCyclingProgrammer

As others have said - yes, potentially but only to the right person. There's no way to be certain.

I'm having a 3x3m garden office/studio built in our garden as I work from home. It's not cheap - about £15k for a fully installed, insulated and plastered building with cedar cladding - but IMO it would easily add £10k or so in value to the house to the right person (e.g. somebody else who works from home, or would like to work from home, or who wanted to use it for some other purpose like a yoga studio, small personal gym etc.).

But to another buyer who has no use for a garden office and would rather have more garden space then it probably adds no value - it might even make it less attractive. But I need it and we plan to be here for a while so I'm not too concerned about its long term value to a future buyer right now.

I think as long as the building isn't disproportionate to the size of the house, is of a good standard construction and is finished nicely you'll find somebody who is willing to pay extra for it. Build something that's big, ugly and badly built and it might knock value off your house if any potential buyer feels like they'd need to knock it down again!

If you get full planning permission and build something that fully complies with building regulations such that it could be treated as a habitable spare room then that IMO is almost certain to add value but again, you would want to make sure its proportionate to the size of the plot and house.