PLOTS OF MONEY!
Neat lawns and outdoor dining areas command a premium, says Graham Norwood
We British have a long-standing love affair with gardens, and we’re willing to fork out for them.
New research by estate agency Foxtons, questioning 2,000 UK home owners, reveals that a garden is the third most important feature people look for when buying a home, after ensuring the property is the right size and in the right location.
Fittingly, with the Chelsea Flower show beginning on tuesday, the survey shows 55 per cent of buyers wouldn’t even consider renting or buying a home without a garden and 36 per cent regard private outdoor space as more important than an extra bedroom.
‘We’re often asked if a garden carries a premium and we believe it does,’ says Foxtons director Daren haysom.
he says seven in ten owners are willing to pay more for a garden, spending an average £11,000 on top of a typical house price across the UK as a whole, rising to £30,000 in the southeast and a whopping £150,000 for a central London garden.
Most home owners love traditional gardens, but one in ten questioned in the survey took an unusual line by admitting to concreting over part of their open space. the reasons for this ranged from Diarmuid Gavin- style landscaping makeovers to ultrafashionable fire pits, outdoor pizza ovens and chiminea heaters.
this year’s Chelsea show has its usual sprinkling of green-fingered exotica including a display based on the plants found in a Maltese quarry and two delicate Japanese exhibits.
But when it comes to our own homes, most still prefer mainstream ideas. the Foxtons survey shows that over three- quarters have a lawn and 55 per cent have installed a patio or decking for dining. Property experts say these features make a home more appealing when it goes on sale, too. ‘ the most common request for a garden is a third to half an acre — that’s big enough to run around in, but not too big to be overwhelming,’ says Nick Mills, of the David Burr estate agency, which covers east Anglia.
he says many buyers moving out of city centres over-estimate their needs and under- estimate sizes — and when they discover the work required for, say, a two-acre plot they revise their plans.
‘the direction a garden faces is important to consider, too. the most sought-after gardens face south- west — not only south — as these gardens can be enjoyed into the evening,’ he says.
Mills also points out that a dog- proofed garden, that’s also safe for children, will appeal to families.
‘ there’s increasing demand for low-maintenance gardens. A seating area or patio and barbecue is a plus point.
‘Many of today’s buyers are looking for an outside room rather than a garden, but buyers with young families will sacrifice this kind of space for an outside play area,’ says Louise ridings, of stacks property search, a buying agency.
For those with a large garden, there is the potential to expand their property and increase its value.
‘ We’re finding that buyers in their 30s and 40s anticipate living in a home for ten to 20 years instead of the five or seven that used to be the norm.
therefore, they want a garden that allows space for the house to expand as their family grows,’ says Bill Warren, who operates his own buying agency.
‘the only serious downside of a garden is if you don’t look after it when you sell, buyers will be deterred and the price falls.’
so if you’re visiting Chelsea next week, take back some ideas — and love — for your garden.