Why do gardens and braais sell houses?
Spring has sprung and with that South Africans will once again be heading outdoors as much as possible.
We are known for our sunshine and braais and, according to the Seeff Property Group, this is often a key consideration when buyers and tenants look for properties.
While the accommodation, features and finishes of the property play a key role in the buyer's decision to put in an offer, the garden and braai facilities are almost universally a deciding factor.
A nice garden with outdoor or roofed braai facilities is a strong selling point and adds value and desirability.
Garden
The garden is usually the first thing that potential home buyers see when they visit a property. An attractive garden immediately sets the tone for the buyer. The garden should be impeccably neat and well maintained.
Buyers do not want to have the hassle of having to clean up the yard and garden when they move in. Therefore, when evaluating two similar homes, the one with a nice garden will inevitably win the day.
An established and neat garden makes your property more attractive, but it does not have to be landscaped. While landscaping is usually a feature of high-value homes, it is not a prerequisite. Today's garden centres provide a great deal of assistance for novice gardeners.
A recent study done in the UK study (sellhousefast. uk) incorporating responses from property professionals and landscapers shows that, in addition to a well-kept garden, some 76% of respondents noted that a good quality patio was also a big selling point.
Seeff's rental agents recommend that if you are investing in a rental or want to rent out your own property and there is a landscaped or nice garden, you retain a garden service and include the cost in the rental to ensure it is wellmaintained and preserved.
The UK research however found that artificial grass or lawn can be off-putting.
While this was a trend during the Cape Town drought, buyers often still prefer real grass, unless they are specifically looking for a lowmaintenance
In the South African context, we know that a braai patio is an important feature that many look for. It is not unusual to find that some new apartment developments now have the option of a built-in braai on the patios or communal braai facilities.