There are questions when buying a gazebo. What size should I have? Where do I put it? These thoughts will all come to the fore. The gazebo's impact on your home's value might not be at the forefront of your decision, but it's a legit question, nonetheless.
Simply put, yes! A gazebo can increase the value of a property. By boosting the property's appeal, a gazebo will make the house more sought after by potential suitors. In spite of this, there are things to consider that'll decide whether the gazebo will raise the value of a home. These range from the quality of materials used to the overall state of the structure.
Read on to find out more about how a gazebo can affect your house’s value.
How does a gazebo add value to your home?
A solid oak gazebo is a luxurious addition to your home. The grandeur of a secluded spot in your garden has a tremendous appeal. You, your family, and your friends have a space to relax and dine outdoors. As many gazebo owners can attest, it'll become the key feature of your garden. Potential home buyers recognise this. A space to create happy memories is of huge appeal.
An Opinium survey referenced in this article showed 32% of adults cited floor space as a top priority for the next home. Don’t get confused by this. Sure, a gazebo will offer extra space and with a roof, it becomes usable come rain or shine. But a gazebo won't increase the floor space of your home.
If increasing the square footage of your house is on your to-do list. Then look at garden rooms attached to your house. Structures such as sunrooms, conservatories, and orangeries will tick that box.
Although a gazebo won't increase the floor space of your home, it’ll add an area for outdoor recreation and in return increase the allure, making the house much more desirable.
When in search of a new home, garden space is of huge importance. As reported by the Express newspaper, carpet specialists Tapi conducted a study in 2022 that had fascinating findings.
A "nice garden" was the top asset in the research. Second to a "nice kitchen". So the garden space is the most important feature of your home for resale value and what better way to landscape your garden than with a gazebo?
What factors affect the value of a gazebo?
If you're set on making a gazebo increase the value of your property, what should you do? Here are a few things to consider.
Type of gazebo
There are many types of gazebos. You'll find gazebos made of timber, aluminium, and plastic to name a few materials used. Let's start with the basics. A pop-up gazebo made of plastic won't add to the resale value of your house. These temporary fixtures are frail and have a short lifespan.
Metal structures are a step in the right direction for a more permanent solution but oftentimes, metal gazebo’s aren’t the best fit for the natural aesthetic of a garden.
In comparison, permanent wooden gazebos are a perfect match. Why? For starters, wood offers a traditional aesthetic that'll never go out of fashion. Alongside good looks, the sturdiness will ensure it will be a decorative addition for years to come.
As oak specialists, naturally, oak is our favourite timber. But there are good reasons behind our love of oak. Not only does oak offer a luxurious wood grain, but it's a great outdoor wood. Its natural water resistance qualities and durability mean a gazebo made of oak will stand for many years and with little maintenance requirements to boot. We can only speak for ourselves here, but we only use QPA and QP1 grade oak. This is the highest quality grade available.
The quality of the materials of the gazebo is crucial to the resale value of your home. But a timber gazebo, in particular oak, will increase the demand with its opulent timeless aesthetic and enduring durability.
Make sure it’s well built
You'll need to make sure the gazebo is well-built. If you're thinking of buying some oak and making it into a DIY project to create your own gazebo. It’s not as easy as you might think. Oak is a hardwood, and the characteristics that make it reliable for outdoor use, also make it difficult to cut and work with.
From high-grade European oak, our skilled artisans craft each beam and joint using specialist tools and machines. Built to last we do a trial assembly of our structures to ensure it’s complete and ready to work with.
With joinery and carpentry work complete, it's a matter of assembly with our kit form gazebos. Even if you're proficient at DIY, we always suggest using a trained builder to assemble a gazebo. Oak is heavy, so not only will you need the extra hands, but aligning the joints can be tough without the right equipment. The knowledge of a professional builder can go a long way to make sure the gazebo stands proud for years to come. As such, a bespoke, well-assembled durable structure will add value to your property.
Choose the correct size and location
The size of the gazebo will make a difference in the property's resale. In simplistic terms, if you've got a monumental L-shaped gazebo 8 metres long, that's going to add more than your standard 3-metre squared gazebo.
But that's not to say smaller gazebos don't add value. They will. In fact, it's about making the most of your space. So, if you're short on space, a smaller gazebo will keep the garden in proportion. While a gazebo will be the epicentre of your garden, it shouldn't impose and dominate the entire space. A well-thought-out garden plan incorporating a gazebo will yield the best results. In smaller spaces consider a square gazebo and place it against a wall or fence to maximise the space. On that note, because we make each bespoke, we can create a gazebo to suit your space whatever the shape or size.
Another consideration is where the sun rises and sets. Will you spend most of your time in the gazebo at night? Or do you want to sip on your morning coffee as the sun rises? Consider when you'll use the gazebo and note the sun's position in your garden.
Use of the gazebo
Common uses for a gazebo include seating areas, dining areas, and space for BBQs and hot tubs. What people use their gazebo for varies from one to the next. There's no right or wrong here. If you've followed the previous steps, what's underneath the gazebo won't make much difference to a house's value, as buyers will want to make it their own.
Will a gazebo increase the value of a home?
So, the research proves a solid oak gazebo will increase the value of your property. To make sure the evidence is conclusive, we spoke to a real estate agent to confirm. When asked if a gazebo adds value to your home, here’s what they said.
“Adding a good quality gazebo to any home will increase the resale value. It’s a win-win instalment in many ways. Not only will a gazebo increase the amount of quality time you can spend with family, but it'll also add to the appeal of the property down the line should you decide to sell. As long as the gazebo is made of quality materials and is well built, it’ll add to the value of a property.” - Niall Foy, Real Estate Agent.
And therein lies the biggest factor of a gazebo. Irrespective of the value it adds to the home, it will increase the quality of time spent outside with loved ones. That's something you can't put a price on.
Yet, in turn, the promise of a space to socialise and relax is a big pull for potential buyers and thus increases value. But to what extent will a gazebo increase the value of your home?
Garden space is at a premium. What’s more, research conducted by Post Office Money on ‘”how to add value to your home’ showed astounding results. According to their research, garden landscaping increases the value of a property by 77%. More than an extension or a new kitchen.
Garden landscaping refers to a wide range of elements, from sturdy fencing to a neat lawn, but of course, a gazebo falls into this category. So if you have a solid oak gazebo surrounded by well-manicured lawns and flowers, the truth is, it could add more value to your home than expected.