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A garden room, also known as a garden office or garden annex, has become an increasingly popular addition to homes in recent years. But does installing a garden room actually add value to your property? In this post, we’ll examine the pros and cons of garden rooms and look at whether they are likely to boost your home’s value.
What is a Garden Room?
A garden room is a standalone structure installed in the garden or backyard of a property. It’s essentially like having an extra room that’s separate from the main house. Garden rooms are normally used as home offices, gyms, studios, playrooms or guest accommodation.
They are usually designed to blend into the garden landscape and can be made from materials like wood, brick or glass. The interior of a garden room is fully fitted out just like any other room in the house, with lighting, power sockets, and often heating and plumbing too.
The Benefits of a Garden Room
There are several ways in which adding a garden room can potentially increase the value of your home:
- Extra living space – A garden room adds useful square footage to your home without the high cost of a full extension. This additional space could be a big selling point for families or home workers.
- Flexible usage – Garden rooms are multi-functional spaces that can serve different needs over time. Being able to market it as an office, gym or guest suite makes it attractive to a wider range of buyers.
- Improved rental potential – For investment properties, a garden room creates an additional income stream through renting it out separately.
- Higher resale value – Quality garden rooms are desirable features that make properties stand out. Recent studies suggest they can add between 5-15% to a home’s value.
The Potential Drawbacks
However, there are also some factors to consider that could limit the value a garden room adds:
- High upfront costs – Constructing a garden room involves significant expense, with the average cost ranging from £15,000 to £50,000 depending on size and fittings. This is a major investment that may not pay off on resale.
- Planning permission – In some areas, planning permission is required for garden structures over a certain size. The application costs and uncertainty over approval could deter buyers.
- Ongoing maintenance – Like any structure, garden rooms need ongoing upkeep and repair costs to remain attractive selling points. These long-term costs should be factored in.
- Limiting garden space – For smaller gardens, building a garden room reduces outdoor space which could make the property less desirable.
Maximizing Value
If you do decide to go ahead with adding a garden room, there are some things you can do to maximize the value it adds:
- Choose a high-quality construction and materials that will age well over time. Avoid DIY builds.
- Make sure it complements your home’s existing architecture and aesthetics.
- Consider intelligent home technology like smart lighting and heating to add modern appeal.
- Use a reputable designer and builder and obtain all necessary planning approvals.
- Think carefully about the function – a multi-purpose space offers greater possibilities long-term.
Get a FREE quote
Are you in Norfolk and considering adding a garden room? Get a free, no-obligation quote from our team. We are offer Garden Buildings in Norfolk and surrounding areas. Tell us your plans and garden size and we will provide a customized quote with prices for your new garden room.
As local experts, we can advise on planning permissions and tailor the perfect solution for your outside space and needs. Whether you need a home office, gym, hobby room or extra living space, we can make your garden room dream a reality!
Call 01603 763189 or email [email protected]
Conclusion
In most cases, installing a well-designed, properly constructed garden room does seem to add value and appeal to a home. However, the financial outlay is significant so it should be carefully considered as part of your overall budget and plans. Get professional advice on maximizing the value of your garden room if you want it to be an asset that boosts your property price when selling.
