Sellers – here’s why prioritising your garden/outdoor space is key
ShareDuring the height of lockdown, there was a growing appreciation of green space, commons, woodlands and parks. In many cases, though, people were left frustrated by their own lack of garden/outdoor space.
Now that the UK property market is back in full swing and people are confident to move again, it’s no surprise that prospective buyers are prioritising garden/outdoor space when searching for their next home. As a seller with outdoor space, this provides you with a major selling point to attract a larger selection of prospective buyers than ever before.
With this in mind, we examine the increasing importance of garden/outdoor space and offer tips on how sellers can maintain and revamp their garden for future viewings. Gardens the newest must-have for buyers.
According to property website Rightmove, two in five potential homebuyers have changed what features they are looking for as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. A survey of more than 4,000 home movers revealed that half of renters (49%) and 39% of buyers currently in the market said lockdown had an impact on what type of home they were seeking, with both now prioritising garden space or wanting to live in a bigger home.
In a similar way to homeworking space now becoming a priority for many buyers, gardens and outside space have taken on an equal level of importance in buyers’ minds. In fact, searches for homes with gardens had risen by 42% in May 2020 compared to the same month last year.
When asked the main change to what they are looking for in their next home, 63% of buyers said they desired a bigger garden or access to one, comfortably the biggest new priority for purchasers.
The survey also found that during lockdown there had been a rise of 19% in people gardening indoors, and 15% in people gardening outdoors. When asked if they plan to continue doing these activities in the future, 82% said they wanted to garden outdoors, and 89% wanted to exercise outdoors.
Maintaining and revamping your garden
From the above, it’s clear that many buyers appreciate the benefits of outdoor space, and this will prove to be the ultimate selling point post-lockdown. If you are fortunate to have a garden or outdoor space, you should absolutely flaunt it, ensuring that it looks the part during virtual viewings and physical in-person viewings.
Fortunately, basic garden maintenance doesn’t take much time or effort. Mowing the lawn, de-weeding where necessary, jet-washing your patio and adding some hanging baskets or new flowers for colour and vibrance are all inexpensive ways to turn your garden around. If you have a BBQ or seating area, or stand-out decking, make sure this is in the best possible condition, too.
What’s more, if you have a unique, stand-out feature – such as a pond or a grand water feature – don’t be afraid to build the rest of your garden around this centrepiece.
To maximise the full potential and saleability of your garden space, though, it could be worth hiring a landscape artist or gardener to get it looking up to scratch. Of course, you must ensure that your home adheres to the government guidelines on hygiene and social distancing at all times.
Here at Balgores Property Group, we are dedicated to helping our clients to buy and sell property in the safest possible manner. For more information on our current operations, please contact one of our branches. You can also submit any form on our website and a member of our team will get in touch as soon as possible.
If you want to find out how much your home could be worth on the current market, be sure to check out our instant online valuation tool today.