Brits Missing Out on Over £50,000 by Overlooking Their Garden, Experts Warn
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Brits Missing Out On Over £50,000 By Overlooking Their Garden
New research reveals Brits are missing out by overlooking the value their garden can add to their property. In fact, only 16% of Brits are investing their savings into their garden and outdoor space upgrades. This is despite a well maintained garden being able to add over £50,000 to the value of an average home in the UK.
The nationwide survey of 2,000 people, commissioned by savings platform Raisin, set out to uncover the similarities between the nation’s savings and gardening habits. It found that only 1 in 5 (21%) actively maintain their garden all year round, even though people spend an average of 17 hours tending to them.
Weeding, neatening borders, mowing lawns and caring for plants topped the list of gardening tasks but for most, these efforts are far from consistent, leaving significant value untapped.
Kevin Mountford, co-founder and personal finance expert at Raisin, said: “Summer is often one of the trickier times of the year to sell your home, as people prioritise holidays. But investing in your garden could be the way to make yours stand out.
“Now in particular, there are quite a few mortgage products at competitive rates. On top of this, changes have been made to affordability testing so people can borrow more to support the purchase of a house. Now is the time to act.
“There is often a big misconception that to make a real impact you need to invest a lot. But this is not the case. A little research and analysis of your current situation can go a long way.”
Gardening expert Simon Akeroyd, shares his advice on low maintenance tips that can help upgrade a garden: “Simple things like the plants you choose can make a huge difference without consuming too much of your time or money. For example, avoiding growing annual plants, such as vegetables – these need to be sown, planted and then dug up each year – and instead opting for perennials, slow-growing shrubs, and small trees which are reasonably independent and look great.
“Some low maintenance activities can even seem counter intuitive, for example not moving your lawn and instead occasionally cutting a path. But this will actually encourage pretty wildflowers to establish themselves and the local wildlife and pollinators will thank you for it.”
To learn more about the parallels between nurturing a garden and building healthy saving habits and tips to help you succeed in both, visit: www.raisin.co.uk/grow-your-savings
