Does garden landscaping increase home value?

If you want to know if your landscaping investment is going to be worthwhile, it's best to ask the experts. We've spoken to two of them – let's meet them!

Richard Addington MRICS (Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), Director, Jackson-Stops

Richard Addington is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), a registered property valuer and an experienced property agent.

He is a specialist in the sale of country houses, farms, development land, cottages, new homes and coastal retreats. Richard started his property career in Devon in 1979 and has been helping clients buy, sell and value property almost continuously over the last 40 years.

Prior to joining Jackson-Stops in 2017, a nationwide property company with over 100 years experience, Richard was a Director at Savills for 15 years.

Nick Rudge, Director at Savills

Nick Rudge is a Director at Savills, a real estate services company based near London. He leads residential property sales from the Banbury office across much of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and The Cotswolds.

Nick’s career in property spans over 35 years in residential agency, the last 22 of which have been with Savills. Prior to this, Nick held positions with Strutt & Parker and John D Wood & Co.

His early career was spent with GVA Grimley (now Avison Young) in commercial practice. Today, Nick specialises in the sale of country homes.

So, you’re looking to increase the valuation of your home. There are several strategies you could try, but overhauling your garden might be the best approach.

According to Rightmove, prospective buyers are increasingly interested in gardens. In fact, 63% of buyers want a bigger garden or just access to one at all.

There’s a significant market for homes with gardens, then, but does that make landscaping your garden worthwhile?

Before we look at the value of landscaped gardens, we first need to understand what they are.

In short, a landscaped garden is an artfully designed outdoor space. This could involve reshaping the terrain, adding trees and plants, and installing man-made features.

Both soft (natural additions) and hard landscaping (manufactured features) are key to creating beautiful gardens. A skilled landscaper will find a way to take your desired features and tie them together into a cohesive design.

This doesn’t just raise the standard of living in a property, it has an impact on home valuations too.

Nick Rudge, Director at Savills in Banbury says “In my experience, a good, landscaped garden can really set the stage for a home – a grand entrance or another space for relaxing and entertaining.

“People pay so much attention to the interior design of their homes – paint schemes, décor, soft furnishings – why shouldn’t we apply the same level of attention to our gardens?

“Landscaping a garden well adds to your property’s kerb appeal. And this drives interest.”

As a homeowner, you’re probably interested in boosting the value of your property. Can landscaping services help you do that, though?

Absolutely. Richard Addington, Director of Jackson-Stops in Exeter says ”Outdoor space is always at a premium and if it is presented attractively for the most appropriate use, it will add value.

“So, for example, houses for families with children will want space for recreation, older couples will want space for al fresco entertaining and keen gardeners will value a plantsman’s garden designed with style in mind. The one caveat to that is, gardens that appear management intensive can be intimidating, so don’t go too far with the elaborate landscaping. ”

Average house prices with and without gardens show a big difference in valuations. Spoiler: homes with gardens tend to be more expensive. In areas where space comes at a premium, like London, that effect is even more pronounced.

It isn’t just about having a garden, though. Home buyers want quality outdoor spaces that deliver the highest-standard garden design and maintenance.

Ultimately, buyers want to picture themselves in a property. That’s easier to do when a garden is beautifully presented.

There are several reasons why buyers are willing to pay more for homes with landscaped gardens. Here are some of the main factors.

• Kerb appeal

First impressions are important to prospective buyers. A well-maintained, stylish front garden, paired with a gorgeous back garden, is going to make a positive impact.

• Lower renovation costs

Home buyers always think about the money they’ll need to spend on renovation once they’ve bought a property. Finished outdoor spaces mean homeowners can focus on garden maintenance, rather than a redesign.

• Practical value

Many changes deliver clear practical value. Patios, decks, and other major features can make gardens more usable spaces. They raise the standard of living.

Selling a home is easier with an award-winning garden, clearly. But most gardens lack both the necessary design and upkeep to make a good impression.

Creating beautiful gardens out of empty spaces isn’t easy. You’ll need both stylish landscape design and quite a bit of muscle power for a full overhaul. As a result, many people turn to landscaping teams. 

Professional services have the tools and knowledge to take on both small and large projects. Unlike laymen, they can handle more demanding work, like terracing, where using heavy equipment is a must. 

Hiring an expert usually means a more stylish outcome, in much less time, too.

How does it work?

The process is simple. Your landscape project will start with a conversation about exactly what you want for your garden. 

Once they have a clear image, they’ll develop your ideas into a workable design. Generally, they’ll implement soft and hard landscaping features throughout. 

For some homeowners, this could mean a large lawn with borders around the perimeter. For others, it might mean a central water feature and extensive patioed spaces. 

Experienced professionals can produce a broad range of landscapes, so it’s about your taste.

How much do landscapers charge?

The cost of landscaping can vary by both task and region. The amount you'll pay for soft landscaping (plants and greenery) will be different from hard landscaping (man-made structures).

If you're planning on adding some masonry structures or installations to your garden, learn more about potential expenses with our guide on the cost of stonemasonry and dry stone wallers.

In any case, prices will often pale in comparison to the increase in your home’s valuation.

Landscapers deliver quality, both in terms of garden design and setup. Yes, you pay a price to get that high standard, but the impact of the work makes it worthwhile.

When you consider the long-term gains in home valuation, the benefits of hiring a landscaper become clear.

The data is clear. Taking a neglected outdoor space and turning it into a curated garden can increase your home’s valuation.

On average, properties with landscaped gardens are more desirable and sell for more. They also offer better living standards, and the higher valuations cover the landscaping costs for good measure.

If you’re not sure where to begin, read the latest landscaping tips, tricks, and hiring advice now. Once you're ready to press ahead with your revamp, start by browsing the highly recommended landscape gardeners in your area.