As a nation of gardeners, it's no surprise that we all know how an untidy, unkempt garden can affect a property's saleability. Throw in a springless sofa, an old fridge and a wheelie bin that's lost its lid and you can pretty much see the place fall down the sold property prices list - or so received wisdom would have us believe. However, what's the truth? What are the garden features that really do make or break a house sale. We dig a little deeper - yes, pun intended.
1. Japanese knotweed
Feared for its potential to cause structural damage and for its fast, aggressive growth, this invasive plant has its own subheading on a seller's Property Information Questionnaire. Similarly, RICS surveyors will look for it when conducting a property survey. Worst of all, banks may refuse to lend on a property with active Japanese knotweed. Tackling it is a costly and lengthy process and many buyers can be expected to walk away rather than buy a property with knotweed.
Recognising Japanese knotweed can be tricky even for the horticulturally minded. Common bindweed, Russian vine and Himalayan honeysuckle are just three common plants that may be misidentified. In cases of doubt, it's best to pay for a professional survey but you might suspect Japanese knotweed if the plant in question has:
- leaves shooting out from the nodes on the stem in a zig zag pattern
- bright green, shield-shaped leaves
- stems that look like bamboo stems
- clusters of white flowers in July
- brown stems from September onwards once the leaves have died back
2. Swimming pools and large water features
In reality, we ought to caveat this one. It's easy enough to come across estate agents (not to mention frustrated sellers and buyers) who dislike even small ponds as much as larger water features. Essentially, any water in a garden that isn't in a rainbutt or birdbath is likely to be looked on with suspicion. The reasons for this are threefold.
First, cost. Even a small pond is likely to require some annual expenditure but larger ponds and especially swimming pools, including natural swimming ponds, can cost thousands in upkeep. This may be a deal-breaker at any time but perhaps even more so during a cost of living crisis of the magnitude that we're currently experiencing.
Secondly, time and labour. Of course, some pond-owners will genuinely enjoy the upkeep inevitably associated with a pond. This might include periodically cleaning it out, checking the pump, mending any leaks in the lining, removing algae and unwanted debris, adding oxygenating plants and ensuring that any fish are protected from the depredations of the neighbourhood heron. However, larger ponds may take more time than the owner reasonably has to spare, while swimming pools need daily monitoring when in use and periodic checks when not.
Thirdly, safety considerations. Understandably this is a particular consideration for those with young children but anyone might be concerned that their water features could pose a risk to visiting children, frail adults, pets or wildlife. Covers might be relatively cheap but often provide only the illusion of safety due to the risk of a person or animal falling in and becoming trapped beneath them. Gates and fences, especially if they're alarmed, are more secure but inevitably costly and not failsafe. As a result, for some people, the only acceptable water feature is no water feature. And, while a small pond might be filled in relatively easily and cheaply, safely decommissioning a swimming pool can cost a considerable sum.
All in all, it's easy to see why swimming pools and large water features can negatively affect sold property prices.
3. Artificial lawns
Although still popular with some, artificial grass is starting to fall out of favour. Increasing recognition of its disadvantages are starting to outweigh its advantages.
On the pro side, we have:
- An outdoor surface that remains mud-free and usable throughout most of the year.
- Durability. A properly installed, high quality artificial lawn may last for as long as 25 years - and cost-effectiveness.
- A healthy-looking product that comes in a variety of shades and styles to mimic different species of grass.
On the con side, we have:
- High up-front cost to install.
- A surface that traps heat and so may be uncomfortably hot to walk on in the summer.
- Potential health risks. This is due first to the fact that artificial grass is a petroleum-based product and is thought to play a role in triggering asthma or allergies in sensitive people. Secondly, it's due to its propensity to trap dirt, animal excreta and other undesirable substances and so potentially become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.
- A product that is vulnerable to damage in areas of high use.
- Poor ecological credentials.
4. Broken fences and damaged walls
Privacy is high on the list of concerns for most homeowners. However, good fencing or walls are as much an aesthetic feature as a privacy issue and getting it right is expensive. Buyers may be unwilling to purchase a property with a broken fence or damaged wall and if they are, they're likely to want to see money off the purchase price. Ensuring that all boundary fencing and walls are in good condition before marketing a property is eminently sensible.
5. An outdated garden
Although perhaps the most subjective of our five categories, there's little doubt that the style (or otherwise) of a garden can deter buyers. Obviously, "outdated" does not automatically equate to "old". After all, a Georgian country house might have a walled garden that could seem out of place in a different sort of property while a Tudor longhouse might have a knotgarden that would be hard to reconcile with a two up-two down terraced home.
Despite this, it's fairly safe to say that, as with interiors, gardens go through fashions. For example, the Coronation-inspired red, white and blue bedding plants of the mid-50s gave way to a desire for relaxed year-round colour in the 1960s, which in turn segued into the "Good Life" and pampas grass crazes of the 1970s. Nowadays, gardens deemed outdated by buyers may take longer to sell and even fetch a lower price.
Nethouseprices Newsletter
You can sign up to our newsletter and join Nethouseprice’s community of over 160,000 members who get regular property tips, relevant offers and news, click here http://nethouseprices.com/auth/user-register
Make a comment