‘’…And a lovely, south-facing garden’ – we’ve all seen the phrase in many a property listing, but how much does a south-facing garden really add to the price of a house?
South-facing gardens are considered more desirable because they get the most sunlight during the course of the day. And, in urban areas, where gardens are smaller, narrower and more shaded, it’s even more important. It is such a big issue that agents now regularly report people using the compasses on their phones during viewings to check the house’s orientation.
Putting a value on it, however, is not that straightforward. Rightmove, fortunately, has done all the hard work, trawling through their extensive data in their search for answers. So what did they find?
Of the 400,000 homes they analysed, the average increase in value was £25,350, or 7%. In London, you’d expect those figures to be even higher, and they were, in financial terms – £60,593 – but in percentage terms they only ranked third, which suggests there is a ceiling to what people are prepared to pay. The keenest gardeners are to be found in Yorkshire and The Humber, which saw the biggest percentage boost of 14%.
| Region | Asking price premium | Price difference |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 14% | £33,931 |
| North West | 12% | £30,613 |
| London | 9% | £60,593 |
| North East | 8% | £14,546 |
| West Midlands | 8% | £22,626 |
| Wales | 6% | £15,252 |
| South West | 6% | £22,608 |
| East Midlands | 5% | £14,056 |
| Scotland | 3% | £5,573 |
| East of England | 2% | £8,277 |
| South East | 2% | £9,443 |
| Average GB | 7% | £25,350 |
During their research Rightmove discovered that south-facing gardens didn’t just affect the price of a house, it also meant the house sold faster. As you might expect, the biggest impact was found to be in places such as Yorkshire and The Humber, where buyers were most keen on south-facing gardens. Those properties sold 8 days faster than the average. Across the country, the figure was 3 days faster.
| Region | Standard time to find buyer | Days saved |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 62 | 8 |
| North East | 57 | 6 |
| West Midlands | 59 | 5 |
| South West | 62 | 4 |
| East of England | 69 | 4 |
| Scotland | 33 | 3 |
| East Midlands | 68 | 3 |
| Wales | 69 | 1 |
| South East | 67 | 0 |
| London | 67 | 0 |
| North West | 63 | 0 |
| Average GB | 61 | 3 |
Rightmove’s Miles Shipside says,
“For as long as I can remember, south-facing gardens have been viewed as the crème de la crème of outdoor spaces among home-hunters.
“It doesn’t mean your house will automatically be worth £25,350 more if it has a south-facing garden as this is an average and it will also depend on the condition and location of your home, but it’s certainly something to shout about in a listing as it could mean your home makes it on to a buyer’s shortlist over another property down the road, or even on the other side of the street.”
Even if your garden is not south-facing, a decent one will still add to the attraction of your home. Whichever way it faces, though, it’s important to make sure you make the most of your outside spaces when you are trying to sell a property, making them look as attractive as possible. That means mowing the lawn, clearing the weeds and repairing and painting fences and sheds. And, at this time of year, that also includes cutting back any dead plants and sweeping away the dead leaves. Any shots you might have of the garden in summer would be very useful, too, as they will help potential buyers see what it looks like in full bloom.