New research from building and renovation expert, Roofing Megastore reveals 15 ‘garden fails’ that could collectively decrease the value of your home by over £80,000, and many of which can either be fixed for free, or for very little investment.
A mouldy conservatory roof was shown to be biggest turn off for potential buyers, knocking off £6,140 from your home’s value. Close behind were damaged garden walls, no lawn, broken guttering and a damaged patio.
The findings are taken from Roofing Megastore’s Garden Trends Report where more than 2,000 prospective purchasers were asked about the garden trends they now value the most, and which would cause them to lower their offer on a property they were looking to buy.
Garden Fails You Should Fix Before Selling
Many of the issues that are most likely to see buyers reduce their offers are related to elements of the garden that are in need of repair.
A damaged garden wall could see offers reduced by almost £6,000. Broken guttering would decrease a home’s value by £5,800, and broken fences would shave £5,500 off a home’s resale value.
Other fails that could be fixed for free in just a few hours include decking that just needs a clean – this would put buyers off to the tune of £5,700. Having rubbish and debris in the garden would knock off £5,500, and having children’s play equipment and toys on display would see buyers put in an offer that’s £5,000 lower than if they had been neatly tidied away and stored out of sight.
If your garden is in need of some serious TLC and you’re unlucky enough to have all 15 garden issues, you could stand to lose a massive £83,364 off the value of your home when you come to sell.
Top 15 ‘garden fail’s most likely to reduce the value of your home
Garden Improvements That Maximise Your Home’s Value
At the other end of the scale, the research also analysed the external additions that are now valued the most by potential buyers. Over the past two years, our outside spaces have become more important than ever, and flexible living and at-home socialising dominate the top 10 most valued garden improvements.
A conservatory is the most prized, potentially adding almost £8,500 to the value of your home, and home office garden rooms are now second on a buyer’s wish list for things they’d like in a garden, adding over £7,200 to a property’s value. A garden gym room, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor entertaining area and a hot tub all make the top 10 too.
Just outside the top 10, buyers would now pay £5,600 extra for a home that had a garden bar. A built-in pizza oven would add on £5,100 and a built-in BBQ could increase a home’s value by £5,000.
Top 20 garden trends that increase the value of your home
North, South, East, West
Given the increased time many of us have spent at home and in our gardens during the pandemic, it’s understandable how many buyers are keen to maximise the amount of sunshine they get in their outside space.
South-facing gardens are historically the most prized, with dawn ‘til dusk sunshine on the cards during the summer months, and they could also increase the value of a home by £6,161. A home with a west facing garden would see its value increase by £5,008. But an east-facing garden could knock off £4,984 from a property’s value, and a north-facing garden could reduce a home’s value by £5,318.
Gian-Carlo Grossi, Managing Director at Roofing Megastore comments:
“It’s so important to maintain your garden because mouldy roofs, damaged decking and broken guttering can all significantly decrease the value of your home.
Not only can a neglected garden be a health hazard and unappealing to look at, often, basic maintenance or DIY is all that’s needed to fix many of the issues that put buyers off the most.
So many of us have spent much more time at home since the start of the pandemic, meaning there’s been a massive increase in demand for garden features such as garden offices, garden gym studio spaces, as well as outdoor cooking and entertaining spaces. This shift in demand has been reflected in our study, with homeowners willing to pay several thousand pounds more for properties with these items.”
To read the full Garden Trends Report and for a step-by-step guide on easy ways to upgrade your garden, visit: https://www.roofingmegastore.co.uk/garden-trends-2022
