Boost your London property’s value with Ellisons’ top five garden improvements

Published: 28/06/2016 Last Updated: 29/06/2016 16:44:56 Author: Denise Wheatley Tags: Gardens, Sales, Home Improvements
As South-West London Estate Agents for over 25 years, we know what prospective buyers are looking for when it comes to finding their perfect property. Kitchens can be changed, walls knocked down and bathrooms given a new lease of life - but garden improvements are often forgotten as a way to drastically increase your home’s value.
With this in mind, here are Ellisons’ 5 top tips to make your outdoor space stand out to potential buyers.
1. Tidy and prune
Ensure that your garden is tidy, clean and cared for before opening your house for viewings. This can involve clearing your garden of old furniture, decluttering the shed, mowing the lawn and weeding your flowerbeds. These changes are cheap, do not require a professional, and will assure buyers that the house has been cared for in your ownership.
2. Add foliage
Trees, flowers and bushes bring nature into an urban garden. Plant life creates a pleasing and private outdoor environment, and also provides a haven for local wildlife (which is great for the little ones)! We strongly recommend planting native species that are in keeping with the local area - local varieties are often cheaper to buy and nearly always easier to maintain.
3. Shine your sales light
Garden lighting is one of the most sought after and easy to install garden features. Lights allow potential buyers to imagine themselves entertaining friends and family outdoors, while also providing a great safeguard against night time accidents and any enterprising burglars!
4. Step out in style
The first step out of your house is one of the first and most effective garden improvements to consider. Patios and decking give any garden another dimension and provide entertainment that is practical to use throughout the year. Adding terraced flowerbeds in areas of your garden with steep gradients is also a good way to increase the variety of colours and textures present while controlling water run-off and erosion.
5. Pave the way for success
Off-road parking at the top of the ‘want’ list for many of our buyers, meaning underused front gardens offer a brilliant opportunity to increase your property’s value. A 2014 survey by Move Us found that a parking space can add up to 10% to the sale price, which makes sense when you consider that street parking permits can run into the thousands of pounds for a growing family. Choose tasteful brick that is in-keeping with the local architecture and add flowerbeds or potted plants to guarantee a strong first impression.
To discuss how to get your house or garden into the best shape before you choose to sell, call or email the Ellisons sales team in your area today.
http://www.ellisons.uk.com/contact-us