Posted on
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
In a list of popular property features, gardens are definitely up there, with recent studies showing that searches for homes with gardens increased by 42% in May 2020 compared to the same month last year.
Beyond that, south-facing gardens are highly favoured with buyers as they provide additional sunlight and provide more opportunities to grow plants successfully – an advantage that has long made them more appealing than properties with non-south-facing gardens.
In fact, research from Rightmove has revealed just how much extra property sellers could add to their asking price just by having a south-facing garden.
Below, we explore why south-facing gardens are likely to be high on the list of priorities for prospective buyers and how they can help sellers to bolster their asking price.
How much more value can a south-facing garden add?
Rightmove research suggests that homes across the UK listed as having a south-facing garden are priced £22,695 higher on average than those without, equivalent to a national asking price premium of 7%.
In London, properties with a south-facing garden have an average asking price of £717,305, compared to those without having a typical asking price of £659,402. This is a difference of £57,903 and equivalent to a price premium of 9%.
The study also shows that the average time to find a buyer in London (between marketing and being under offer or sold subject to contract) is 45 days.
The figure remains the same whether you have a south-facing garden or not, but if you prepare your garden accordingly and market it effectively, your chances of selling quickly and for the best possible price will certainly increase.
What if you don’t have a south-facing garden?
Even if your garden or outdoor space isn’t south-facing, it’s still likely to be a popular feature with prospective buyers – especially in the summer months – and the impact of Covid-19 means more people are prioritising outdoor space than ever before.
Rightmove reports that two in five potential homebuyers have changed what features they are searching for as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with 63% of buyers prioritising a bigger garden or access to one.
What’s more, the number of prospective buyers searching for homes with a garden had risen by over 100% between June 2019 and June 2020.
The survey also found that during lockdown, 19% or more people gardened outdoors, while there was a 15% rise in people gardening outdoors. When asked if they plan to continue doing these activities in the future, 82% of respondents said they wanted to garden outdoors, and 89% wanted to exercise outdoors.
Unsurprisingly, 81% of property professionals believe that there will be an increase in demand for properties with gardens or balconies post-Covid-19, according to separate research from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
How can you prepare your garden for a property sale?
From the above, it’s evident that a majority of buyers appreciate the benefits of garden and outdoor space. Therefore, it’s essential that your garden is in top condition for virtual and in-person viewings and a key part of your marketing campaign.
This can be done by carrying out a range of basic, inexpensive tasks such as de-weeding, ridding of garden waste, washing your patio, sprucing up garden furniture, incorporating potted plants and mowing the lawn.
You should also ensure that your outdoor space’s standout features – such as a BBQ area, water feature, pond or decking – are accentuated as much as possible during viewings.
To maximise the full potential of your garden space, though, consider hiring a landscape gardener to get it looking up to scratch.
With the market boost provided by the stamp duty holiday, and summer being the peak selling season, now is a great time to put your home on the market.
For more advice on selling a home in Romford and the surrounding areas, please get in touch with us today.
Additionally, you can request a free and instant online valuation to get an idea of how much your property could be worth on the current market.
