Giving your garden some TLC is certainly worth doing if you're putting your house on the market. A few small changes could make your outdoor space more attractive to potential buyers and could subsequently help to sell your house faster.

In fact, according to a previous study, well-kept gardens can help to boost the value of a property by £2,000.

Whether it's tidying up or opting for a complete overhaul, give potential buyers a reason to choose your home with these recommended garden updates to help make your house more sellable.

1.Opt for an outdoor building

Additional outdoor buildings, such as garden rooms, log cabins, summerhouses, greenhouses, pergolas, workshops and shed bases can all brilliantly boost the value of your home. Expensive, yes, but they promise to add an extra dimension to your garden while also providing vital garden storage space.

Buyers want well-sized, smartly-designed spaces they can find function in. Some see outdoor buildings as another room — a place to relax in when they need a break from gardening or space to concentrate on a hobby. 

The team at GBC Group tell House Beautiful UK: 'Having an outdoor building, although an initial investment, can see you adding at least 5% to your property value, dependent on variables such as location, size and style. 

'Outdoor buildings not only grant you the extra space required but also provide the additional benefit of not being connected to your home, allowing for less potential problems than if an extension or conservatory was to be built.'

2. Give your garden a face-lift

Looking for ways to improve your property's value without breaking the bank? You'll be pleased to know that one of the easiest ways to do so is simply by giving your garden a face-lift. You don't have to aim for a garden that recreates a fine landscape painting – it's the simple things that will make the most difference.

'Clean up, tidy litter, remove dead plants, pull weeds, paint any chipped fences, repair and feed the lawn, or even add a bit of colour with some new plants or a fresh coat of paint for the fence,' Sam Mitchell, CEO of Housesimple tells us. 

Even if you're looking to sell your home during the colder months, it's important you take care of your outdoor space. Sam says: 'A messy garden can be a real put off. There is no guarantee that your garden will be beautiful all year round, and it can be time-consuming, but you can keep it alive and looking good with a little bit of prep.' 

Remember: your outdoor area doesn't have to be perfect, just presentable. It's a lived-in space, after all, but first impressions really do count so make it a priority to have a quick clean up to attract those buyers. 

Us time-strapped Brits don't have as much time to spend gardening, so it comes as good news that one of the ways to attract buyers is by quick outdoor wins. Whether it's jet-cleaning the patio, tidying up toys or simply cutting the grass, these seemingly significant things may greatly impact your buyer's decision.

3. Add a key selling point

For many, a well-maintained garden will be the overall deciding factor when it comes to choosing to put down an offer or not. When designing or altering your space, consider adding a key selling point — one that will ultimately increase the value of your home, and shows buyers that thought and time has gone into designing the space. 

'Having a patio in your garden can work wonders to raise your property value and encouraging potential buyers to pick your house,' Michael Patterson from We Buy Any House explains. 'It isn't too much work to create a patio in your garden, and the slabs make a huge difference to the appearance of your garden. It will open up the space you have and look like you have two areas, making it look like a bigger garden.'

4. Incorporate water features

From fountains to ponds, streams, cascades and waterfalls, a water feature in your garden not only creates a tranquil haven, but it can also attract wildlife, too.

'A water feature can completely transform a garden. It's recommended to keep it relatively simple; you don't want to go too big or gaudy, it can be off-putting. Having something subtle but aesthetically pleasing is what will make the biggest difference; it makes an area feel more calm, open, and relaxing, and can also cover noises from any nearby roads – perfect for houses near a main road,' says Michael.

Never had a water feature? Now's your time to get one...

5. Add shrubs to provide privacy

'A wide range of mature trees and shrubs are now available and are a great way to hide an unattractive view or provide privacy,' explains garden designer, landscaper and Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal winner, Mark Gregory.

'What we live with on an everyday basis is not necessarily what we would choose for our outside space so the first thing that anyone should do is take a step back and try and look at their garden objectively; assess what enhances the space and what detracts from it.' 

Adding shrubs and hedges is a really simple way to hide anything you don't want new owners to see — such as unattractive buildings in the background. They're also incredibly simple to plant and much cheaper than installing a fence.  

'I would also suggest filling any gaps within borders with potted bulbs,' suggests Mark, 'you can buy these from most nurseries and garden centres until early summer. Simply plunge them into the ground in their pots and you've got a simple way of introducing colour and vibrancy to the garden.'

6. Think carefully about outdoor furniture

'A well-designed garden can add between 5-10% to a property's value, so a good design from the outset is key,' Jo Thompson, four-time gold medal winning designer, tells us. 

'Try adding a chair and bistro table, or place a bench further into the garden to catch the last of the sun. I would suggest de-personalising the area without stripping it of atmosphere, by this I mean remove any large or unsightly equipment such as swings as buyers might not be able to see past them and fully appreciate the space.'

Source: House Beautiful