Britons are willing to stump up an extra £27,000 the home they are considering buying has a garden, a new survey suggests.
In London and the South East of England, where outside space comes at a premium, buyers are willing to fork out more than £30,000 more to bag a home with outside space.
Around 80 per cent of over 1,700 homeowners surveyed by Zoopla said they had previously rejected a property because it did not come with any outdoor space and over half had dismissed a home for having an unkempt garden.
Paying a premium: Britons are willing to stump up an extra £27k if it means they can buy a home with a garden
With the barbecue and sun-worshiping season in full swing, green-fingered homeowners spend around £41 a month on their garden, while those renting their homes spend just £18 a month on maintaining their outdoor spaces.
Zoopla said nearly 90 per cent of the thousands of people it surveyed claimed having a garden was one of the most important factors when deciding to buy a new home.
Buyers in the South East take outdoor space seriously and are prepared to stump up an additional £31,768 if it means getting a home with a garden.
Close behind are Londoners, who are willing to fork out an extra £31,447 if it means getting a home with a garden, followed by buyers in the North East of England, who will hand over an additional £30,942 if needs be.
Buyers in Wales are the least willing to pay a hefty premium for outdoor space, typically spending no more than £22,036 more for a property. The average cost of a home in Wales is currently £190,880.
Homeowners in Scotland and the North West of England are similarly reluctant to pay a major premium for a home with a garden, with most unwilling to spend anything over £22,000 to bag some outdoor space.
A homeowner typically spends around 21 hours a month in their garden, while for people renting a property, this falls to just 12 hours a month.
Lawrence Hall, a spokesman for Zoopla, said sellers and landlords should make sure gardens are properly maintained as it is ‘certainly an important selling point for buyers and renters.’
He added: ‘With the good weather set to continue, it is only natural that more people will be on the hunt for properties with outside space to enjoy the sun.’
Curb appeal: The garden can be one of the most important factors for buyers when purchasing a home
Every space counts: A homeowner typically spends around 21 hours a month in their garden
Work in progress: Buyers in Wales are the least willing to pay a hefty premium for outdoor space
Online estate agents have surged in popularity in recent years and the photos used to market a property are crucial when it comes to drawing in buyers.
Sellers need to make sure their gardens are well maintained, with the lawn mowed and any garden waste cleared up and taken away.
While some green-fingered buyers will be happy to take on a serious gardening project, the majority will be looking for a simple and easy-to-maintain space.
Any sheds and outbuildings, particularly those used as an office, should be clean and tidy and show a buyer exactly what they can be used for.
Take note: While some green-fingered buyers will be happy to take on a serious gardening project, the majority will be looking for a simple and easy-to-maintain space