With so many people still working from home in the second half of 2021, we think it’s fair to say that outdoor space has increasingly come at a premium.
With the presence of COVID in our lives predicted to continue for the foreseeable future, and with it, a continued change to our living circumstances, it’s never felt more important to make the most of our gardens, front yards, patios and more.
For those keen to upgrade those spaces, there’s an added incentive beyond the pleasure of relaxing in renewed outdoor spaces; doing so can add significant value to your property.
Value is, of course, a hard thing to conceptualise. From a house owner’s perspective, value can be measured by how much an upgrade adds to the monetary value of the property. But it can also simply represent the benefits that the owner receives from the house and its features. Considering both, here are 10 unexpected ways to add value to your home – outdoors!
THE BEST WAYS TO ADD VALUE – OUTDOORS
The Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report for 2021 lists some big remodels that offer value, but they also reveal that even little hacks, such as adding outdoor lighting or protecting your deck, can make a big difference, too.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the report found that 29% of UK residents want to move to a property that has more outdoor space. The most value-adding outdoor improvements included:
- Swimming pool (£7,707)
- Bifold doors/French windows to the garden (£4,654)
- Vegetable patch – (£6,093)
- Decked patio (£4,227)
- Outdoor cooking area (£6,859)
- Garden Bar (6,687)
- Home office garden room (£9,008)
- Summerhouse (£9,118)
- Landscaped Garden (£8,547)
- New Driveway (£8,012)
Let’s get out there into our garden and dig a little deeper…
SWIMMING POOL – £7,707
A Reuters report published in August of last year revealed that pool sales had skyrocketed as consumers splashed out on coronavirus cocoons, in both the USA and Europe. And as we mentioned earlier, a swimming pool can add nearly 8 grand of value to your property.
That said, while the return-on-investment (ROI) on a pool seems attractive, it’s not always the right upgrade for a homeowner. Unless you enjoy swimming and use it often, a pool can be a double-edged sword during a home sale.
A pool makes a house an automatic “no” for some prospective buyers because of maintenance and upkeep requirements. Considering that a pool can cost much more than £7,000 to install, make sure you do your research and learn what’s involved before taking the plunge.
BIFOLD DOORS TO THE GARDEN – £4,654
Designed for maximum visual impact, bifold doors that open onto the garden are growing in popularity. In fact, Business Wire predicts that the global bifold door market is going to grow by a whopping $184billion by 2024.
It’s easy to see why; bifold doors welcome the outside in, flooding the home with natural light and lifting the resident’s moods in the process.
A bit more expensive than standard French doors, bifold doors make a statement and lend a more modern feel to a home. Usually, a bifold requires a level threshold, so talk to a builder about whether this is the best option for your home.
Read: 4 IDEAL things to consider before buying bifold doors
VEGGIE PATCH – £6,093
An incredible 26.7 million Brits grew their own produce some time in the last year, and out of that figure, 7.4 million tried growing fruit and veg for the first time.
Yep, it seems that lockdown created a ‘crop-growing revolution’, and we’re very much here for it (feel free to send us any excess courgettes you’ve got from your most recent glut, by the way).
Indeed, over the last couple of years, growing vegetables has not only became a way to pass the time, but it has brought people wellbeing benefits, too. A well-tended vegetable garden can certainly add to the asking price of your property, but that’s not all; a veggie patch can add value to your life in other ways, too.
Growing your own veg is a wonderful way to get in some gentle exercise; as a matter of fact, approximately 300 calories an hour can be burnt through gardening. Moreover, nurturing your own crops, from seed to plate, can do wonders for the mind and soul. We think that gardening is like taking a multivitamin for the soul, and your body will be thankful, too, for all of the nutrients it receives absorbing through all that freshly picked produce you’re eating.
Read: The IDEAL beginner’s guide to growing your own produce
DECKED PATIO – £4,227
Adding a deck to your home can provide great ROI and an opportunity to upgrade your outdoor space while you’re still living there, too. Composite decking is a good choice when it comes to choosing the material for your decked patio since a composite deck tends to last much longer than standard wood decking and, therefore, doesn’t cause the same strain on the environment.
What’s more, the materials used in composite decking tend to be primarily sourced from recycled materials, furthering the product’s green credentials.
With a decked patio, you might want to consider adding an outdoor cooking area, extra space for outdoor entertaining and a convenient spot for potted plants. Speaking of which…
OUTDOOR COOKING AREA – £6,859
Sit back and imagine prepping, cooking and enjoying your meals at home, alfresco style. Outdoor kitchens are growing in popularity and add a new dimension to your home which can be enticing for potential buyers if you ever want to sell up. Indeed, an outdoor cooking area can add £6,859 to the value of your home, on average; a number that’s certainly not to be sniffed at.
While of course you can add an outdoor grill and a pizza oven, why not go the full hog? We’re talking about fully kitted out, outdoor kitchens. Think about adding a fridge, which can limit the need to go back inside, as well as wine coolers, sinks and ovens, side burners, vent hoods and more…all of which can really up the convenience of your outdoor cooking space and add value to your home in the process.
GARDEN BAR – £6,687
“God I miss the pub”. It’s a lament nearly all of us have uttered at some point during lockdown. It’s also a longing that led many Brits to build their own outdoor pub or garden bar sometime during the previous 18 months
Whilst it feels like a frivolous endeavour, there’s a method to the madness, here; a garden bar can add nearly £7’000 to your property’s value. And that’s before you decide to charge for drinks out there!
HOME OFFICE/GARDEN ROOM – £9,008
If you’re keen to boost your home’s value and your garden has room to spare, then adding a garden office is an easy way to bump up the price; to the tune of approximately £9,008, in fact.
Many see the home office space as becoming a permanent feature of our working lives. As such, installing a garden room or even a well insulated shed (or ‘shoffice’, as we like to call it) is not only an investment but can make your life easier and more comfortable if you, too, are working from home.
Creating a devoted area will enable you to focus on your work and deadlines with renewed vigour, and enable a little connection to nature in a time when our relationship with the outdoors has become rather fleeting.
Practically speaking, you may need to apply for planning permission to build the garden office of your dreams. Check planningportal.co.uk or contact your local planning authority to check if you do indeed need permission.
SUMMER HOUSE – £9,118
Instead of creating a new space for your office, why not diversify and create a space for relaxing in your garden which can double up as an office when the house gets too busy?
A summer house makes a fantastic addition to any garden with the space to take it; these buildings are extremely versatile and can be set up to suit any need, acting as a second dining room or living room and adding aesthetic intrigue to the garden, too.
LANDSCAPED GARDEN – £8,547
Rated People’s estimate of £8,547 could be on the cautious side, here! According to Post Office Money, landscaping your garden can add a whopping 77% to the value of your home! Really…
Indeed, a great-looking garden can make all the difference – not only creating a space that you want to enjoy – but making your property look well maintained in the minds of potential buyers, in terms of valuation.
The Post Office’s study found that shelling out a mere £2,750 on a landscaped garden can add an average of approximately £40,000 to your home’s value. Oh, and mature plants, trees and flowers can rack up an extra £3,716 of value in the eyes of potential buyers.
However, getting your hands on a landscape gardener may be harder than you think right now. According to the Society of Garden Designers, there’s been an unprecedented demand for garden designers recently.
If you can’t book a decent designer at the moment, may we suggest binge watching episodes of ‘Garden Rescue’ with Charlie Dimmock and award winning garden designers the Rich Brothers, who travel across the country, giving old and tired looking gardens a makeover for inspiration? Secondly, let us direct you to our article on 5 IDEAL landscape gardening ideas that are relatively easy to do yourself.
NEW DRIVEWAY- £8,012
Pay attention to your parking area. A driveway showing signs of wear and tear, perhaps lined with cracks and faded from the sunlight, will detract from that wow factor you’re seeking when one arrives at your home.
A well-laid, aesthetically appealing driveway design, on the other hand, can add value to your home and even attract potential buyers that may just be passing by.
Remember the driveway sets the tone and character of your house. As such, you want to make sure it matches the overall aesthetic of the exterior of your home.
When designing your driveway, don’t overlook the entrance. It doesn’t necessarily have to be all that elaborate, but it should be inviting and offer guests an intriguing insight into your home. Moreover, it should also be in keeping your home’s setting, be it urban or rural.
THE BOTTOM LINE
It seems that the whole of Britain is intent on upgrading their outdoor spaces at the moment. Don’t get left behind!
For more home improvement ideas, check out the full Rated People Home improvement Trends report for 2021 here.