Kent Kerb Appeal: How Important Is Your Garden & Lawn?

If you’ve ever bought or sold a house, you’ll probably have come across the term ‘kerb appeal’; the general attractiveness of your home and surroundings.

Behavioural scientists call it the first impression bias: people tend not to have all the information they need when they are first introduced to something or someone, so our brains make a bunch of rapid observations and form assumptions around them.

Of course, we are a bit biased ourselves but really, how important is your garden and lawn when it comes to your home in this equation?

The Importance of First Impressions

First impressions are powerful.

According to Homeowners Alliance research conducted by YouGov, almost 70% of buyers think kerb appeal is important with a tidy front garden coming in third on the list (67%) of the features that were most important, above the front door, exterior walls and others.

And those opinions matter, quantifiably so.

The Stats Don’t Lie

Here’s a bit more evidence highlighting the importance of kerb appeal:

• In a published article the associate professor at the UTA College of Business found that together, neighbour and own property kerb appeal may account for up to 7% of a house’s sale price (The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics).

• Evolution money asked 2000 UK residents how much ‘kerb appeal’, with 3 in 10 saying they’d be happy to pay an extra £5k or more for a home with a well-maintained exterior.

• Finally, taking a trip over the pond for a moment, the largest trade association for realtors (NAR) revealed that cost recovery on a standard lawn care service was 217%. In percentage terms that outstrips all other outdoor remodelling projects.

What this means in the South-East

In Ashford

Price paid when buying with a mortgage or cash in Ashford

Source: UK House Price Index from Office for National Statistics and HM Land Registry

With average house prices in Ashford lingering around the £350,000 mark, a 1% or 2% boost equates to a £3,500 – £7,000 premium.

In Sevenoaks

Price paid when buying with a mortgage or cash in Sevenoaks

With average house prices in Sevenoaks lingering around the £480,000 mark, a 1% or 2% boost equates to a £4,800 – £9,600 premium.

In Canterbury

Price paid when buying with a mortgage or cash in Canterbury

With average house prices in Canterbury lingering around the £345,000 mark, a 1% or 2% boost equates to a £3,450 – £6,900 premium.

In Dartford

Price paid when buying with a mortgage or cash in Dartford

With average house prices in Dartford lingering around the £335,000 mark, a 1% or 2% boost equates to a £3,350 – £6,700 premium.

In Dover

Price paid when buying with a mortgage or cash in Dover

With average house prices in Dover lingering around the £285,000 mark, a 1% or 2% boost equates to a £2,850 – £5,700 premium.

In Maidstone

Price paid when buying with a mortgage or cash in Maidstone

With average house prices in Maidstone lingering around the £330,000 mark, a 1% or 2% boost equates to a £3,300 – £6,600 premium.

In Tunbridge Wells

Price paid when buying with a mortgage or cash in Tunbridge Wells

With average house prices in Tunbridge Wells lingering around the £450,000 mark, a 1% or 2% boost equates to a £4,500 – £9,000 premium.

So back to our bias.

Investing in professional lawn care is one tactic in the kerb appeal playbook with a demonstrable impact on first impressions and out-weighed return on investment through increased sale value.

And even if you don’t end up selling, those lasting first impressions don’t only have to be for potential buyers.