UK homeowners who choose to enhance their gardens are seeing a significant increase in their property values, surpassing those gained from building extensions or installing new kitchens, experts say.
The Post Office Money Survey indicates that landscaping your garden could boost your home’s value by as much as 77 per cent. This return on investment for garden landscaping outstrips that from adding extensions or swimming pools. Additionally, the research highlights that garden landscaping and new kitchens are among the home improvements most likely to provide the highest returns, potentially adding between 25% and 75% to the property’s value for projects costing between £2,750 and £7,500.
Originally conducted six years ago, the first study based its findings on the average asking price for a three-bedroom semi-detached house across the UK, demonstrating that garden landscaping added the most value. It was shown to be the most cost-effective home improvement for resale, providing the highest return on investment compared to other upgrades. For instance, a new kitchen could increase property value by 25 per cent, an extension by 37 per cent, and a wet room by only seven per cent.
Trudi Lovell, Marketing Manager at Bannister Hall Plants Nurseries and Landscaping Supplies in Higher Walton, Preston, said: “Our consumer trends data supports that garden landscaping continues to be a significant growth area with homeowners, especially with the increase in property demand and the prolific housebuilding we have seen over the last few years. Bannister Hall has seen a sales surge in both natural stone and porcelain paving, as well as sales growth in other areas such as plants, turf, topsoil, aggregates and even in garden-lighting products.”
Other research supporting the financial rewards from improving your garden comes from Foxtons estate agents, which reveals that simply having a garden will generally increase a property’s value by 20 per cent. Moreover, 72 per cent of house buyers were prepared to pay more for a property with a garden, according to Foxtons. Similarly, data by Rightmove revealed that access to a garden was a priority for over 60 per cent of buyers searching for a new home.
