75% of Brits are slashing the resale value of their homes – and don’t even realise

Brits are inadvertently reducing the value of their homes by failing to spot the earning potential of garden sheds, new research has found.

The study*, which was conducted on behalf of leading shed retailer, Waltons (http://www.waltons.co.uk), reveals that 1 in 4 homeowners don’t believe that a garden shed adds any value to a property.

However, estate agents across the country insist that this isn’t the case.

Cotswold property finder Peter Hampshire said: “Having a well-kept shed is a real plus when selling your home.

“And although a shed isn’t critical, it does tick a box – it’s one less thing for buyers to think about when they move in.”

A recent first time home buyer, Rebecca Moss, said: “I was grateful that there was a potting shed in the new property I bought. I was able to store a number of items that would have been in the way when I was painting and decorating.

“Now I use my shed to store my garden furniture and tools.”

Looking regionally, Welsh homeowners are the biggest believers in the value that garden buildings can add to their properties, followed by those living in West Midlands and London.

On the other hand, the majority of residents in Yorkshire don’t think that investing in their sheds would help to raise their property price when it comes to selling.

Aaron Ketland, a spokesperson for Waltons, said: “Our study shows that not many people believe in the potential of their garden buildings. However, many estate agents that we talked to reported that if homeowners keep their sheds neat and tidy they can improve their house’s price.”

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Notes to editors

*3 GEM surveyed 2000 UK adults aged 18 and over, between 23rd December 2015 and 4th January 2016.

Waltons created an interactive to help homeowners pick the right shed for their gardens. You can find it here: http://www.waltons.co.uk/what-shed-should-i-buy/

Website: http://www.waltons.co.uk/
Twitter: @Waltonsgarden

For further information, please contact

Hana Bednarova
0161 266 4453
hana.bednarova@tecmark.co.uk