Kiwis are all about getting outside to cook, eat and play, which means attractive and functional outdoor areas are high priorities for house hunters. And for sellers, great landscaping doesn’t only improve the saleability of a property, it can add thousands in value to the sale price.
Maree Gray, sales and marketing consultant at Harcourts Cooper & Co in Milford, says first impressions count, so street appeal is important.
“A home needs to look well-loved to get buyers in the door. Lawns need to be mown and edges and hedges trimmed, which immediately conveys to buyers that the house has been well maintained,” she says.
Outdoor zones such as as home extensions are also appealing to buyers, Gray says. “So, consider each area as an outdoor room and use its function to define its design.
Start your property search
“A quiet place to relax could include a water feature, shade sail and seating, with a separate play area created for the kids.”
Kiwis love an al fresco dining area, and Gray says there’s a real trend now to incorporate an outdoor fireplace or pizza oven.
“They’re a huge drawcard for buyers, especially with plenty of seating, shade cover and privacy from neighbours with tall hedging.
“Another popular feature is the vertical garden wall, with either real or fake plants. People today want easy-care, stylish living spaces where they can enjoy their garden without being a slave to it.”
Adam Evans, who runs a 16-strong team at Urbis Landscapes in Auckland, says ‘low maintenance’ is one of the most common things he’s asked for when designing a garden plan.
“And dare I say it — artificial turf is becoming popular these days.” However, he notes there’s recently been a resurgence in popularity for the colours and scents of a high-maintenance cottage garden, with hydrangeas, roses and perennials.
But for those wanting less fuss, native plants are always popular, work well with most styles of planting and are easy to grow and look after.
“Although they can look a little ‘loose’ for some clients who want more structure. Sub-tropicals are always a favourite, and around the pool and in city gardens they look great. I don’t think they work as well on lifestyle blocks.”
Evans says other popular features are large decks, pergolas and a good back lawn — the bigger and flatter the better.
He believes a beautiful outdoor entertaining area with pergola, fire and seating area can “100 percent add value, but also increases saleability because people can fall in love with a garden”.
Gray says it’s no secret that a well-landscaped home has a significant price advantage over a home that’s not landscaped.
“While it’s hard to determine an exact value, what you spend should at least double in value. Professional landscaping these days is like a work of art but it is also a property investment.”
However, Gray thinks too many flower beds can be off-putting to those who are not keen gardeners, and she recommends low-maintenance planting finished off with mulch or bark. “Less is always more.”
Other deterrents for buyers are decks in disrepair, and lack of privacy. “Fencing with trees to break up the fence line can solve the privacy problem,” says Gray.
“And decks should have rotten boards replaced and green mould cleaned off to make them look loved. Another feature that’s often overlooked is an unsightly clothesline.
“Streamline your clothesline to a wall-hung one that folds down when not in use.”
She also recommends trimming overgrown trees so they’re not hanging over the spouting or blocking out light to the house. “This is an easy fix, although can be costly depending on the trees.”
Evans is often asked by clients if a pool adds value or whether the maintenance could put off potential buyers.
“My answer is put a pool in for yourself, not for resale. Ask yourself how long you’ll be there to enjoy it, and are your children leaving home next year? These considerations should inform the decision, not whether it will add value — because it may not.”
Budget guide
$5000: Good garden tidy with new mulch, detailing plants and a lawn revamp.
$10,000: Same as above but more plants and maybe a paved area.
$30,000: A small property may get a full landscape including paving, pergola, fire pit and planting, whereas a large deck could run to $30,000 alone.
