Does a Nice Garden Add Value to Your House?

The philosopher Francis Bacon once wrote:

God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.

Today’s property market is proof that this principle still holds.

Your garden will undoubtedly impact your property’s value, making it more likely to receive offers and to sell quickly.

But how much exactly does it move your asking price by? And what difference does it being nice make?

Keep reading to find out.

How does a garden impact property value?

Many experts predict gardens (or lack of gardens) can change house value by up to 20% in either direction.

So, theoretically, a property valued at £500,000 could be worth approximately £400,000 without the garden. And one valued at £500,000 could be worth £600,000 if it had a garden.

What is a ‘nice’ garden?

Nice is obviously a subjective word.

However, in general, property professionals (and therefore most potential buyers) will generally consider gardens ‘nice’ when they are:

In good condition: Well-kept, with good quality of grass, trees and flowers. Not overgrown and with man-made features (patios, sheds, etc.) in good condition
Well-designed: This can range from simple, functional designs to intricate, quirky ones.

Garden features

Gardens come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

Many aspects of them will contribute to how much of an impact they will make on a property’s value value, including:

Size
Boundaries
Tidiness
Types of plants.

How common is it to have a garden in the UK?

According to Office for National Statistics data, around 88% of UK properties have gardens.

This figure varies slightly across the country. In London, it’s 79%, and in Scotland it’s 87%.

Rural areas have the highest percentage of properties with a garden.

What size is a typical UK garden?

The median UK garden is around 188 square metres.

In Scotland it’s 226 square metres and in London it’s 140 square metres.

Why does a garden impact property value?

1. Increased square footage

More square footage almost always translates into a higher property value.

At its most basic level, a garden increases a property’s value simply by increasing its square footage.

2. Increased attractiveness

A garden – especially an attractive one – can greatly improve a property’s curb appeal.

It can compliment a property’s appearance both in photos and in-person viewings.

If all else is equal between two properties, the one with the more attractive garden will likely recieve more offers.

3. More potential for property development

Garden space can often be used to expand properties or build new structures (such as granny annexes, home offices, etc).

(As long as planning permission can be granted for it.)

Viewers will see the value in this potential even if they don’t immediately plan to use it.

4. More likely to stimulate viewers’ imaginations

Property purchases are important life choices. And during viewings, potential buyers will often try to imagine living in your property.

Anything that nudges their imagination in a positive direction will likely increase the likelihood and amount of an offer.

For example, ponds attract wildlife. Viewers might imagine watching this wildlife and the relaxation it will bring.

Or, seeing a swimming pool, they might use it regularly for exercise and or hosting parties. These will improve their health and social life, respectively.

(Whether they will use it as much as they imagine they will is another matter!)

Does a communal garden impact property value?

Any type of garden is likely to increase the value of your property. This includes a communal garden.

However, the percentage increase is unlikely to be as high compared to if you entirely owned the garden.

Remember that if you’ve got a communal garden as part of a block of flats, this’ll usually be reflected in the service charge you pay. Buyers will factor this into their offers.

Does a garden in poor condition increase or decrease house value?

A garden in poor condition usually makes a property more valuable than no garden at all.

Many buyers will reduce their offer if a garden is in bad condition. So, before you listing a property for sale, it’s in your interest to:

Clearing away rubbish
Cutting the grass
Removing harmful plants (such as Japanese knotweed and similar plants) and pests (if present
Fixing features (patios, fences, sheds, etc.)

Buyers who might like a garden in poor condition

There is a subset of buyers who are particularly interested in buying a fixer-upper house. These buyers may find an untidy garden appealing because of the potential it represents if they improve it.

So, they may actually find an untidy garden an attractive prospect. But this is largely because they believe it will enable them to give a lower offer.