Nearly half of people have been put off buying or renting a property by the condition of the garden, a survey has suggested.
Some 47 per cent of people surveyed had been put off by shabby gardens in the past, property website Zoopla and the Society of Garden Designers found. Half of the 2,000 people surveyed believe a good garden layout is as, or more important than, a well-designed bathroom or kitchen. Nearly nine in ten home owners surveyed said they consider their outside space to be either very or extremely important.
The survey also asked people to rank their favourite garden design features, with having somewhere to relax coming out top. Here is the list of desirable garden features ranked in order of popularity.
1. Somewhere to sit and relax.
2. Maximum sunlight throughout the day - South facing.
3. Somewhere for children to play.
4. Flowers/shrubs.
5. A space for pets.
6. Somewhere to entertain.
7. A plot for growing fruit or vegetables.
8. Extra storage space, e.g. a shed.
9. A water feature.
