Should I invest in my GARDEN?
During the pandemic, gardens became a more important part of our lives and millions took up gardening for the first time. Research by the Society of Garden Designers suggests around three-quarters of homeowners already have or would consider spending money on their gardens to increase the value of their properties and that, on average, they’d be willing to spend an extra £15,000 to buy a house with a garden. According to the survey, half of homeowners believe that a well-designed garden is as important as a well-designed bathroom or kitchen and 47% would think twice about buying a house with a garden that was not up to par.
A garden office could add 5-10% to the value of your home
HIRE A DESIGNER
But while you can add a lot of value to your home by doing up the garden, you can waste a lot of money as well. Employing a designer could help prevent costly mistakes. ‘Nowadays, more people understand the value of having their garden professionally designed. Many see it as a long-term investment,’ says garden designer Cleve West.
Anyone can call themselves a garden designer, but the ‘find a designer’ section of the website of the Society of Garden Designers is a good place to search for a professional. All registered members abide by the society’s code of conduct and there’s a mediation service, which can quickly help resolve any issues that arise. According to myjobquote.co.uk, the average cost of designing a garden is £30 to £150 a sq m. A designer will charge at least £600 for initial drawings but the total cost of a complete garden makeover is likely to run into thousands. However, a border design taking around half a day will typically cost around £200.
If you work from home and have space, it may also be worth building a garden office. Costs vary depending on size, starting at around £7,000 for a 3 x 2m insulated garden room, including installation, or £13,000 for a higher-spec 5 x 3m one. On top of this, you’ll need to pay for the foundations, any plumbing, heating, electricity or broadband connection, but a garden office could add between 5% and 10% to the value of your home**. Planning permission isn’t usually needed, unless the office takes up more than 50% of the outside space. You can find more at homebuilding.co.uk or gardenroomhub.co.uk.