The green revolution has become widely popular, and for good reason, with retail outlets offering organically grown food, businesses installing solar panels for residential purposes and a major surge to reduce wastage by on natural resources, it will continue to become a part of our everyday lives.
This has influenced many of us to examine our own carbon footprint. Especially from a food perspective and its role in this cycle. The knock on effects of this has caused a trend whereby families produce their own food, therefore investing in fresh produce gardens.
But can this addition add value to your home and increase demand when selling?
An aesthetically appealing garden undoubtedly adds value to your home. In the UK it is estimated that a well maintained garden can add as much as 20% to your property’s value. Taking this into consideration the added benefit of producing highly nutritious food in a garden that looks appealing to the eye will definitely add a sparkle to many buyers.
As consumers continue to educate themselves on the benefits of this lifestyle the demand for these features will continue to rise. We’ve already noticed a trend by millennial buyers for homes with improved energy efficient systems and grey water installations.
This being said, a few guidelines that might be taken into consideration so your fresh produce garden is more appealing.
- Installing a grey water system to replenish your garden is fantastic way to ensure responsible use of water and the sustainability of the garden.
- Aesthetic appeal has a major influence. A neat well maintained, variant identified garden has higher demand.
- Plant varieties that will most likely form part of a family’s regular eating diet.
- Cordoning off the area widens the scope of the buyer, as they might have children or animals that will damage the garden.
As with most upgrades to your property ensure you are able to calculate the return on investment accurately. If you’re going to spend a large amount of money expecting an unrealistic value add, you might be left disappointed.
Statement by
Richard Gray
Harcourts Africa Chief Executive Officer