Garden improvements could help the value of your house to rise
Property guru Phil Spencer has revealed five garden improvements that could add £60,000 to the value of your home.
According to the latest data from lender Halifax, the average UK property is now valued at £296,699.
But TV property expert Phil said a few simple improvements to your garden could see your home’s value rocket.
A well-kept garden could add as much as 20% to the value of your property, he said.
Phil, who founded property advice website Move iQ, said: “Improving your garden is one of the most effective ways to add value to your home.
“Making your outdoor space more attractive will typically cost less than an interior renovation, and needn’t require lots of specialist skills.
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“Even if you’re not green-fingered, there will be things you can do yourself that make a big difference.
“After all, plants are more forgiving than plaster and plumbing – if you make a mistake, they grow back.”
He told The Sun : “An inviting garden makes a home feel bigger – in the warmer months it’s like an extra living space – and it will make your home appeal to a wider pool of buyers, such as young professionals who like to entertain, families, pet owners and retirees.”
Here are inexpensive ways to make your garden grow the value of your home.
Repotting
According to Phil, you should try to work with what you already have in your garden.
He said: “Try repotting your existing plants into new and attractive tubs, or giving old and tired pots a lick of paint.”
If you wanted to spend a little money, you could look to flowering varieties or buy new shrubs which can be strategically located in patio areas.
Pots of varying sizes and colours can work well when grouped together.
Hanging baskets
Phil said: “A few good quality hanging baskets will brighten up even the smallest space, and you can add a dash of colour to your borders with flowering bedding plants.”
Lighting
Adding some lighting to your garden can work wonders.
Phil said: “Colourful solar-powered lights can instantly turn your garden into a feature, rather than just the space outside the house.
“You don’t need an electrician to install them, as they’re self-contained and not connected to the mains.”
Phil added: “The right lights will enable you to enjoy the garden more on warm evenings, and should look good through the window even when the weather is bad.”
Add a garden room
If you have a bigger budget, installing a summer house is an easy way to create extra living space or a room.
Phil said: “In most cases, as long as the summer house is less than half the size of the garden, planning permission is not required – but it’s worth checking this with a local planning officer first.
“A high-quality, insulated shed can serve as an office pod, a den, a gym or just a cabin for the kids to play in.”
If you are confident to do it yourself, materials would cost around £3,000.
Getting one installed will cost more, with prices starting at about £5,000 for materials plus about £1,500 for installation, plus VAT.
Phil added: “Done well and depending on the size, a decent garden room could add between 10% to 20% to the value of your home.”
Outdoor cooking
Phil said: “While a full outdoor kitchen is the ultimate in garden glamour, typically adding between 5% and 10% to the value of a property, you can enjoy the fun of al fresco cooking and spend much less dough.
“Outdoor pizza ovens start at just a few hundred pounds, and bring a much bigger wow factor than a traditional barbecue.”