
It’s easy to do and the results are impressive
The property market.
One minute the prices are soaring and every homeowner sees themselves as a property magnate. The next prices are plummeting and we are in a slump.
Well, those in the know are now starting to quietly suggest that we may be coming out of a recession, in fact house prices in England have reached a record high, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The ONS house price index for England alone is now 0.9% higher than it was at the previous peak in January 2008. Overall, the annual house price inflation rose to 3.3% in July, up from 3.1% in the previous month.
But how do you capitalise on this growth?
The simple answer is that you make the most of what you have. And one space that is constantly over-looked is the garden.
First of all, stop thinking of the garden as somewhere you step into when you leave your home and start thinking of it as an extension of your home. This means it needs to be designed to be the space that you want it to be.
Are you looking for a space to relax in? An area for entertaining? An extension of your kitchen that’s packed with herbs and flowers, or simply somewhere magical for the kids to play?
Once you know how you want to transform your garden, next comes the hardest bit.
Do you have the knowledge, time and experience to do it yourself?
Be honest.
It’s just like any other conversion in your home. If you don’t know how to do it, you get someone in who does. And if you want to add real, bankable value to your home, then you’ve got to do it right. Nothing is worse than a bodged job.
Just go about it in the same way as you would with any other home renovation.
Know exactly what you’re looking to create.
Set out a budget that you’re happy with.
Then start to ask around. Choose a landscape gardener the same way you would a plumber, by recommendation.
Get two or three companies in, tell then what you’re looking to achieve and what your budget is, then compare them.
Remember, it shouldn’t just be about who’s the cheapest, it should also be about who shares your vision and who you can work with.
Lastly, remember it takes time for the transformation to be complete. Plants need to settle in. Flowers need to bloom and freshly laid lawns need to become verdant.
Lastly, think about adding french or sliding doors so you can bring your new garden into the home.
For a minimal investment, you can quickly and easily transform a forgotten space and add real value, value in the region of 2-5%.
The trouble is, now you have a new garden, you might not want to sell. Which might not be such a bad thing, as who wants the stresses and stains that comes with that?