will a garden room add value to my home?

When you arrive at the conversation about getting a garden room understandably there may be some reservations, in part due to the investment size, but also whether it’s right for your family.
Often we find clients asking will a garden room add the same or more value to my home? Should we do an extension or loft conversing instead or add a basement or conservatory?

There are more than a few ways you could the investment funds to do other projects around the home and garden, from remodelling the family bathroom to landscaping and patio works or renovating the kitchen. In short, the answer is yes, the more long-winded answer as with most construction-based projects is it depends on a few factors, which we’ll cover below.

With buyers actively seeking out properties with these rooms included or the space available to do so, our work from home culture has helped to drive the demands for garden rooms to be used as offices.
If working remotely or a flexible approach to location is on offer then a garden room office may well tick your requirements box, giving the separation needed between home and work life.

Now there are many factors to take into consideration here, but if you’re thinking of selling up at some point in the not-too-distant future then you’ll want to take on board where your hard-earned money is best spent around the home.

You’ll likely already be aware of the cost implications and value-added from other building works projects, in order to make an informed decision we’ll run through our bits below;

how the size of your studio space can effect added value

The size of the garden room will impact the value Smaller spaces limit their potential function; therefore, a more compact room will be less desirable in most instances than a larger one, seems logical but can be overlooked if driven mainly by budget. Same as extensions, more space = more options, if your garden has the capability to have a larger room and funds allow then we’d encourage giving this area some thought. Money invested here will come back around should you decide to sell up, but also consider your own usage of the garden room. If using it as a home office do you want to work in what is effectively a shoebox, or wish that you’d factored in more room for storage once you’re all set up and moved in? Working amongst clutter isn’t usually the best for productivity so you’ll want to weigh up the investment now vs how much more productive you’ll be once moved into the space.

why the quality of your build can impact value added to your property

The build quality of garden room affects the perceived value As you may imagine there is a vast range in quality out there in the market, from great to poor and everything in between. A higher investment price doesn’t necessarily reflect on this either so make sure you know what you’re getting and ask to view some recent work of the contractor. If someone’s looking to buy your home and they see a structure that is sound, well maintained and looks visually appealing it can certainly add to the draw of the dream. Whereas a shoddy looking shed that looks as though a strong gust of wind may take it down certainly is less enticing and will often give rise to a more thorough inspection of everywhere else around your property, giving ammunition to negotiate a lower price. Not only that it then starts the brain thinking about what they may have to do at a later date, how much more money they may have to spend and so on.

what is the main function of your garden room?

What the garden room is designed to be used for can affect the value it has on your home Designing and building a room exclusively for one function can limit its appeal somewhat, if you don’t plan to sell up any time soon isn’t the end of the world but should this thought be on your mind, consider the implications of your decisions now and in the future. The multi-purpose spaces are as popular as ever, with families often requesting a garden room that could be used as an office during the day when needed, a hangout space for the kids in evenings and weekends or a place to serve as a room in which to get sweaty with some exercise. A room that’s been designed solely for you to carry out aerial yoga or house your collection of rare pressed flower specimens, perhaps not so much, which is more than fine if you plan to stay put long term. Understandably you’ll want to get as much value from the investment as you can, so demonstrating this and the lifestyle that can be achieved when people come to view is important

does the location matter when it comes to adding value to your property?

Location, both within your garden and your area as a geographic location will have an effect on what value it can add to your home As Phil and Kirstie say ‘location, location, location’ I’ll delve into this point with reference to desirability, using our catchment area as an example. People have been selling up and migrating outwards from London, realising they can get more for their money as they venture further afield, with some postcodes being more desirable than others, as will be the case length and breadth of the country. Therefore, spending £30k + on a garden office in a desirable suburb of Surrey may have more of an impact on the resale price and desirability than doing so in an area in the middle of nowhere sandwiched between Brighton and Crawley with not much in the way of commuting options as an example. Where it’s situated in your land should also be taken into consideration, if you want a games room for the kids it’s often more practical to site the room as far away from the main house as you can, without it being so far as to not be practical. Trudging a quarter of a mile down to the end of the garden on a dark, wet winters evening won’t be as appealing as a quick dash 20m to get into the room.

getting the best useage and value from your garden studio

Experience teaches us that you have to make these projects as enticing as they can be in order for them to be used regularly, with privacy and noise control coming into the equation also. We’ll stick with the games room example for teenagers here if you’re wanting to encourage them to shout at Fortnite at a safe distance yet don’t feel that it’s too much of a chore to walk down the garden Line of sight and whether you’re opting to have blinds installed, keeping a watchful eye on their antics may seem ok as a parent but what about the youngster’s viewpoint of having their parents spying on what they’re up to. Adding features like blinds will be useful regardless of the function, working from home and getting sun in your eyes or glare from the screen? Doing a few reps of your squats and each time you stand up the horizon perfectly aligns with your gaze causing a moment of uncomfortable squinting and squirming whilst you attempt to dock the bar back on the rack?

is there anything else thats helpful to consider?

It should go without saying but since we still hear horror stories of cowboy builders out there, do not part with big chunks of money well in advance or do business with those who you get a bad gut feeling about, a deposit to secure your booking is normal. A percentage to cover initial outlay close to the start date is too, however demanding 50-70% of the job fee upfront is not, I know everyone has a different approach to this but if someone wants that much in advance, are they going to be motivated to come and do the work when the date rolls around? We tend to operate with a 5% booking fee, then phased payments for the remainder of the job so you get to see the progress at each stage, with final payment once we’re done, decorated and all cleaned up. We find it’s more comfortable for both parties this way. . Staging the property before you market can assist in getting viewings who see the potential and buy into the place, giving generous offers and quick sales. Thinking about what the garden room can be used for by these potential next owners can impact really affect the perceived value of your home. I’ll wrap up with an example from a buyer’s perspective directly, having built a room for a client they decided to sell up not too long afterwards, when we revisited the property to get photos, it was interesting to hear what they had to say. One of the main selling points was that everything that could have been done to the house had been, such as loft conversion, extension and a garden room which they decided to use as a gym/ yoga studio, this was the deciding factor that ultimately led to an offer and purchasing the place.

If you’re interested in seeing this particular project a link to the YouTube video is here: Home Gym and Yoga Studio So, if you’d been wondering whether a garden room will add value to your home then hopefully this article has proved useful and given some areas that need consideration, naturally, if you’re located in the London or South East of England and are considering a garden room yourself we’d love to hear from you. Drop us an email over to hello@owlgardenstudios.com and share your ideas