In this article, Nicky Roeber, Online Horticultural Expert at Wyevale Garden Centres, takes a look at some of the best ways that you can boost your home's value by improving your outdoor space.
When you're planning to move home, you're probably going to start thinking about how you're going to make your property as appealing as possible to potential buyers. However, while there are plenty of upgrades you can make to the interior of your home, it's important that you don't forget how the exterior looks as well, and this should begin with your garden.
A 2017 survey by AXA found that a well-kept garden can boost a property's value by as much as £2,000, showing just how much value homebuyers put on a pleasant outdoor space. With this in mind, I'm going to share my top tips for improving your garden so that you can get maximum value for your house. Read on to find out more.
Take care of general maintenance
Before you start showing potential buyers around your home, the absolute minimum you should do is to carry out any general upkeep your garden may need. Even though your garden is probably kept nice and clear anyway, it pays to get it in the best shape possible to impress visitors and give the impression that it's a low maintenance space.
Take the time to rake up any loose leaves that may have blown in and pick up any clutter that may have accumulated. If you have any outstanding maintenance tasks, such as repairing a paving stone or giving a fence a new coat of paint, be sure to get these done too.
Build a sense of space
If you really want to impress your visitors, you should look to maximise the sense of space in your garden. Not only will this be aesthetically pleasing, but it can help to give the impression that the property offers more value for money with a larger outdoor area.
There are quite a few ways that you can enhance the feeling of openness: try reducing the appearance of high boundary walls with climbers, extending paving all the way to the edges of your garden, and removing any overgrown plants to maximise the visual impact of your space.
Invest in storage options
Following on from the previous point about creating space, you'll also need to make sure that you have options for storing any large items, like barbecues and furniture, or any garden tools and equipment you might have lying around. Getting these out of the way will help you to build that valuable sense of openness and help to make a great first impression.
Consider adding a shed to your garden if you have the space, as it will give you somewhere to keep your outdoor essentials secure. What's more, a survey by SellHouseFast discovered that 82% of garden and property professionals said a decent sized shed was the feature most likely to add more value to your property, which is why it's likely to make a great investment.
Use flowers to add colour
No visitor to your home will be able to resist the sight of a beautiful garden in full bloom, which is why you should ensure your outdoor space is teeming with plants and flowers. There are plenty of options available to you for year-round colour: follow Gardening Know How's guide to creating a four-season garden to ensure yours looks great no matter what month of the year you decide to sell.
Even if you aren't a keen gardener or you don't have any flower beds, there are still options for extra colour. Potted plants and hanging baskets can be added at the drop of a hat and can really add the finishing touch to a low maintenance garden or yard. Plus, they can be bought pre-grown if you aren't confident about cultivating them yourself.
Follow my tips and you will be able to create a garden that improves the appeal of your home to potential buyers and, hopefully, adds some extra value to the asking price as well.