External post by Susannah Hammond
If you’re thinking of selling your property, you’re probably already wondering about ways to add value to your home before you put it on the market. Most of us start with interiors projects such as clearing clutter, repainting walls, replacing tired kitchen cabinet doors, or adding some fresh new bathroom tiling. This all helps to show your home in its best light, but it’s just as vital to make the most of your outdoor space too.
Whether you have a small paved area or a larger garden, the way it looks can make as much impact on your home’s value as your well-presented interior.
Just as buyers need to picture themselves within your home, they’re also going to imagine how they’d use your outdoor space to relax and unwind. One family might be looking for a low-maintenance setup with a lot of space for activities, whereas another could be looking for a place to entertain friends or add extra living space.
With this is mind, here are some simple things you can do to add wow factor to your outdoor space, as well as value to your home.
Sell your outdoor space as part of your home
We’ve all heard of kerb appeal, and it’s a crucial part of making a good impression on a potential buyer. Make sure the front of your property is clean, tidy and welcoming, then carry this through to any other outdoor space. Get stuck in clearing weeds, mowing grass, and fixing wonky fencing, and use a pressure washer to spruce up paving or decking. This alone can show off the potential your outdoor space has to offer.
If you’re selling in the summer, you could create an alfresco dining area with new garden furniture, or add a fire pit for winter viewings to show how the space can be used long after the sun has gone down.
If you’ve got the budget to invest in outdoor improvements, it’s been shown to pay off. Adding a paved patio area can be costly, but could add up to £10,000 to your home’s value. Whilst a shed is always a great feature to have, upgrading to a garden office shed at a starting cost of around £3,000 could add more than £12,000 to your asking price. Professionally installed fencing that offers privacy can add an extra 20%.
Take away the stress – and some memories
Getting your home ready to sell is stressful, even before you’ve begun your search for the perfect property and the best mortgage deal to get you moving. However, focusing on adding value to your home and garden is beneficial when applying for your next mortgage, as the equity from your current one is all yours to spend on your next home. Online calculators available from mortgage broker services like Trussle can add these numbers up and let you know what loans you can get. They search mortgage deals on the market and recommend the ones that suit your needs.
With that major job off your hands, you can spend your time and energy on getting all the necessary work done to boost your home’s value, inside and out. Bear in mind that if you do have some plants or shrubs you’d like to take with you, it’s a great idea to start transferring these into large pots, or take cuttings of established plants in advance of showing your outdoor space. That way you can take some living memories of your home with you, and also save some money when you’re developing your new garden.
What’s your top tip for adding value to your home with your outdoor space?
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