If you’re looking to buy a home, then the chances are that you’ll be considering a whole range of competing priorities. But the availability of outdoor space, increasingly, is weighing heavily on the minds of would-be buyers. Put simply, it’s more important than it was just a decade ago, and this shift has come about for a variety of reasons.
Hybrid Working Has Changed What Buyers Want From a Home
One of the most enduring consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is the enduring popularity of working from home. Around a quarter of adults in the UK spend at least some of their working week at home. This shift has prompted many buyers to consider what they want from their living space at home.
After all, the more time you spend at home, the more important it becomes to have access to your own outdoor living space. These parts of a property, increasingly, are being viewed as extensions of the indoor living areas, rather than decorative additions.
Outdoor Space Is Now Closely Linked With Health and Wellbeing
Leaving to one side the shift in our working habits, we should also think about the mounting evidence linking green spaces with better mental health outcomes. As cities have become larger and more developed, the need for parks and other outdoor spaces has become obvious. And homeowners have reacted, with trends toward houseplants and ‘biophilic’ design coming to prominence. A few pots around a kitchen window sill can make a big difference.
Developers Are Responding to Demand for Better Outdoor Living
Developers, too, have recognised the importance of outdoor living. They’re competing to offer not only quality gardens, but also access to communal spaces that offer all of the same benefits. The choice of location for new developments also matters; we’ve seen many new build homes spring up near coastal areas and forests, where access to nature is that much easier.
Gardens and Outdoor Features Can Add Long-Term Property Appeal
It’s worth remembering that the concerns and desires we’ve mentioned are widely shared. Millions of homeowners aspire to have a green place they can relax in, and easy access to local parks, forests, and other natural environments.
Consequently, we can be sure that would-be buyers will appreciate the investments we make in our own gardens, which means that patios, outdoor dining spaces, and special features like pizza ovens might all lead to improvements in a home’s value.
