Would artificial lawn put you off buying?

orangecrush

Evening all!

We are thinking of selling our house later this year, and are trying to decide what to do with our absolutely hideous lawn.

The rear garden is terraced upwards away from the house. The first level is a patio - fine - second and third levels are lawn. We have heavy clay soil and there are a few giant trees in neighbour gardens, so some bits have a lot of shade and little rainwater. It's a constant battle in the summer to keep the lawn looking even vaguely decent (patches everywhere), and in winter the grass just dies off.

A neighbour had the same lawn problem, and after spending a fortune over the years having the soil drainage improved and new turf fitted, has accepted defeat and had artificial grass fitted, and it actually looks pretty good. We'd be fine with it for our own use, but knowing that we are going to sell, we might rethink if it will put people off.

I am guessing that it's quite divisive, but I'm interested to hear perspectives! If it helps it's a 3 bed semi, area is a mix of young families and older couples.

Thanks for your time! :beer:

Slithery

I don't mind the new stuff myself, but it does always look odd seeing someone hoovering their garden

GreenSnake

I wouldn't waste your time and money.
Just leave it alone.
Let the new buyers do what they want.
Whatever you do will probably be wrong for them.

glasgowdan

As above, there's zero point in spending thousands when it won't make a difference to sale price. You'd be basically robbing yourself of money you could have in your pocket instead.

SuzieSue

glasgowdan wrote: »

As above, there's zero point in spending thousands when it won't make a difference to sale price. You'd be basically robbing yourself of money you could have in your pocket instead.

I agree with this as it is very expensive unless you do it yourself.

Unless the feedback from viewers says that they don't want it because of the garden, I would leave it.

orangecrush

Would it really matter that little? At the minute it is literally just mud. We've done a lot of renovations to this house, and kind of feels weird to just leave the garden as a mudbath.

Young families are the target market for this area, and I don't know if it would put them off. But I guess you can't do artificial lawn on the cheap, and have it look good...

Hmmm. Some re-thinking needed. Thanks folks!

Edited to add: definitely can't DIY as I am 4.5 months pregnant! I assumed artificial lawn would be a low hassle solution lol. Thanks again!

GreenSnake

orangecrush wrote: »

Would it really matter that little? At the minute it is literally just mud. We've done a lot of renovations to this house, and kind of feels weird to just leave the garden as a mudbath.

Young families are the target market for this area, and I don't know if it would put them off. But I guess you can't do artificial lawn on the cheap, and have it look good...

Hmmm. Some re-thinking needed. Thanks folks!

Edited to add: definitely can't DIY as I am 4.5 months pregnant! I assumed artificial lawn would be a low hassle solution lol. Thanks again!

Don't be brainwashed by rubbish daytime TV shows. You know the ones where revolting over privileged presenters go around with photogenic young couples, wanting to "get on the ladder"?

orangecrush

Haha yes, I know what you mean!

But for me, it's less brainwashing by daytime TV, more that I know I was (/am) an incredibly picky buyer. You're right that even I probably wouldn't be picky enough to completely discount a house because of a patchy lawn.

Irony is we want to stay on the same street, with its hideous clay soil and sloping gardens, but just get a bigger house!

GreenSnake

orangecrush wrote: »

Haha yes, I know what you mean!

But for me, it's less brainwashing by daytime TV, more that I know I was (/am) an incredibly picky buyer. You're right that even I probably wouldn't be picky enough to completely discount a house because of a patchy lawn.

Irony is we want to stay on the same street, with its hideous clay soil and sloping gardens, but just get a bigger house!

If the gardens are sloping, maybe some people will want decking?

Kidder81

I'd agree with leaving it.

Personally I'd prefer artificial grass as I hate mowing the lawn but I'd leave it up to your buyer.

If the nature of your garden isn't family friendly (tiered) then I'd do nothing to the outside or you may find yourselves spending money and limiting your market.

Red-Squirrel_2

Put some gravel down and a few pots if you think its bad enough that it will put viewers off, but definitely don't spend a lot of money on fake grass.

Its already falling out of fashion, in a few years it will be like trying to sell a house with an avocado bathroom suite.