It’s a popular pastime, but can gardening actually make you money? Nicky Roeber, Online

Horticultural Expert at Wyevale Garden Centres, shares his tips on how property owners can increase the value of their homes by taking care of their garden.

Everyone knows the tricks when it comes to selling properties:convert the loft, add an extra bathroom, and give everything a fresh coat of paint before potential buyers come to visit. However, surprisingly little thought is given to a property’s exterior and to gardens in particular.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make a garden look good, but the effect it has on the overall value of the property is quite significant: sometimes up to 20%, according to Sell House Fast. Plus, This Is Money found that gardening offers the second biggest return on investment when it comes to home improvements — 88%, just behind adding a conservatory.

So, what is it about gardens that makes people want to say ‘yes’?Below,I’ll explain just some of the ways a garden can increase the value of your property to potential buyers.

A garden makes a good first impression

Gardens can give the exterior of your property a real ‘wow’ factor — what’s known as kerb appeal. A front garden is the first part of your house that potential buyers see so, if you’re lucky enough to have one,it’s important to look after it as it can give your whole property a lift. After all, it doesn’t take someone long to decide a property isn’t for them, and you don’t want to put them off before they’ve even gone inside.

To make the most of your front garden, keep it neat, well maintained, and free from rubbish to make that all-important good first impression. If you don’t have a front garden, you can still add some initial impact by having potted plants on your front step,or by having a fresh bunch of flowers in the window.Remember to paint your fences, door and window frames, too, as peeling paint can be more noticeable than you might expect.

A garden provides privacy and quiet

Potential house buyers don’t just judge your property when they come to a viewing.They also assess the location, road, and surrounding buildings – particularly the proximity of your property to neighbours. No matter how much care and effort you may put into your interior, if something outside your property is putting buyers off then they will likely go elsewhere.

Everyone wants to relax in their own quiet sanctuary, and high fences, bushes, and hedges can provide a garden with privacy, making it feel like a quiet haven protected from less desirable environments. So, having a back garden that’s cut off from the world could make buyers more likely to part with their money.

A garden shows you care

A well-kept garden also suggests other features of your property that require a lot of maintenance — such as plumbing and electrics — are also well looked after.If you look like you’ve taken the time to weed, prune, and mow the lawn, then you’ll seem less likely to let other parts of the property fall into disrepair and potential buyers will feel more confident in their decision making.

You don’t need to overdo it, though, just show good attention to detail. A basic yet tidy garden with a lawn and planting area will be far more universally appealing than one that is elaborately landscaped, plus potential buyers will be able to visualise their own garden design plans more easily.

Millennials like gardens

Finally, it’s worth noting that millennials love plants. Originally, buying houseplants and window boxes was just a way for them to brighten up a rented home, but now they’ve caught the gardening bug and are looking for properties with gardens.

Gardens haven’t been this popular since the 1970s, when Tom and Barbara from ‘the Good Life’ made self-sustainability cool. Now, equally hip celebrities like Zooey Deschanel and Jake Gyllenhaal have been documenting their gardening escapades on social media; from tending organic vegetable plots to designing artisan flower beds. So, having an outdoor area attached to your property can be a big selling point for millennial house-hunters who want to get their hands dirty.

These are just some of the reasons that a garden can add value to your property. So, if you’re fortunate enough to have a front and/or back garden, make the most of the space and tempt potential buyers with a neat, quiet place to relax and grow things.