Garden Living

Features

MOVING HOUSE? INVEST IN YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE!

Whether you're in the Met Office's camp and class the first day of Spring as 1st March, or whether you're more of a traditionalist sticking to the historic concept that Spring kicks in on the night of 20th / 21st March - the day of the vernal equinox - either way, it's now official that Spring is upon us, bringing with it the usual flurry of activity in the housing market. As families struggle to get their children safely enrolled in a new school for the start of term in September, demand in the housing market is at its greatest during the Spring and Summer critical selling windows.

If you're thinking of putting your house on the market, it is important to ensure it will create a favourable first impression with viewers. A survey of estate agents commissioned by B&Q found that the overall way a property looked was considered to be the most important factor for most home owners. And since people often decide whether they like a property or not within seconds, maybe even before they've even reached the front door, it makes sense to pay some attention to the area immediately outside the house to ensure an aesthetically pleasing welcome.

Putting initial impressions aside, the state of your outdoor space can seriously affect the overall value of your property and according to the Halifax Home Improvement survey, a garden is in the top five features considered to be an "essential" asset for any property, with the Nationwide Building Society agreeing that aesthetic styling such as landscaping your garden is likely to help sell a home more quickly. And if you need any further justification for investing in the outside space, a study by Saga Insurance last year reported that a staggering 86% of Britons consider the garden as a "key feature" to prospective house-hunters. And it's not just the middle aged to older generations who are wowed by a wonderful outdoor room, Saga's survey found that even younger people are acknowledging the benefits of garden enhancements with 44% of 19-30 year olds claiming to have considerably increased their home's value by instigating improvements to the garden and the area surrounding the house.

Compared with other "value adding" improvements to the home, spending money on your outdoor space is also relatively cost-effective ’Äì and certainly less disruptive to day to day living than many other popular home makeover initiatives. However, bear in mind if the work you are putting into your garden is purely as a means to stimulate greater interest from prospective buyers, it makes sense to stick to features which will appeal to the masses. Striking touches such as ornate pagodas, huge sculptural plants or dramatic water features can alienate certain buyers, not because they dislike such features per se but simply because the styling is not in keeping with their personal tastes.

Whilst an attractive, tidy front garden provides instant "kerb appeal" don't be tempted to gloss over the (usually larger) back garden. In a society where we are increasingly turning to our exterior space to achieve that all important extended living accommodation, a well kept outdoor room can sometimes be the defining factor between putting in an offer on property or simply looking elsewhere. Make sure that the garden to the rear (and if applicable to the side) of your house demonstrates an innovative use of space to create an instant sensation of stylish outdoor living.

Think about the type of buyer your home is likely to attract and then consider how the outdoor room fits into that buyer's lifestyle. For instance, if you own a large property that is destined to appeal to a family think about investing in a patio or decking area which provides access to an outdoor play area year round ’Äì very important if you're looking for a way to keep lively kids out from under your feet! Alternatively, if you own a smaller house ideally suited to a professional couple then an outside entertainment zone might be a desirable asset, so consider developing a private outdoor dining area. In both scenarios, a low maintenance exterior space is vital so hard landscaping, easy care plants and minimal mowing will be deemed as winning features to potential purchasers.

If you're unsure how to go about improving your outdoor space, then book an appointment with a professional garden designer. Scenic Blue is an award winning (RHS Gold medal at last year's Chelsea Flower Show) garden design and construction business with an established reputation for creating inspirational outdoor rooms to complement the home's interior living space. For an investment of £395, you can arrange a one-to-one professional garden design consultation to discuss your garden's make-over needs, after which you will receive two copies of a Garden Design by post. You are then free to indicate any preferred alterations and return a copy to your designers, who will make the necessary alterations and submit a final concept drawing to you, complete with installation options, suggestions for landscaping products and guide prices for installation.

Once you've agreed the plans it's time to sit back and let the professionals transform your home's exterior space into a stylish, temptingly gorgeous outdoor room, which will hopefully have potential buyers queuing up to make an offer! But be prepared for an unexpected turn of events - according to mortgage giant Abbey, almost half of all homeowners are now deciding to stay put and build extra space ’Äì so you might find that once you've invested in the garden, you've no longer the desire to move house after all!