Landscape before selling?

[NotThatSocial]

We are looking to move within the next year. Our current house is in good nick- some parts excellent - but the back garden is an absolute state. It all needs digging up and levelling, asbestos shed and a broken wall pulling down, new shed in different position, new patio, turf and borders. We're looking at about £12k total, which is a big chunk of our savings.

Is this something that's likely to make much difference to the value or the saleability of our house?

Thanks!

Can you post a pic? You might think it's worse than it is.

I think it would depend on what kind of buyers your house is likely to pull in and what proportion of the overall value of your house the outlay is.

For example, it's a FTB kind of house, I think it would matter less, if it was a bungalow or big house aimed at retirees or families with small children I suspect they wouldn't want the bother or the cost unless it's a very high value property to begin with. Of course, this is all speculative.

I’d ask an estate agent, as it will depend on the house/local market.

My friend was in a similar situation and the agent said to leave as is (massive pond had been filled in and generally tidy but needs total revamp) because they might spend 5k making it look better, but new owner would just likely rip it up & do it properly.

House sold for well over asking price very quickly.

Thanks for the thoughts so far.

House is a 1930s semi, 4 beds, 2 bathrooms. Greater London, near a station. So very much a family home.

Speaking to Estate Agents is a good idea.

It would put me off buying a house if the garden was in a state like that, tbh

I wouldn't wait to touch a property with asbestos. I would ask for it to be removed before proceeding if I wanted to buy your house. Otherwise I'd look elsewhere.

The house and garden were both messes when we bought our home, plus asbestos garage too. Didn’t put us off as we bought it as a project. Of course the price will be affected by the garden being a mess, but can understand your dilemma if fixing it will cost so much.
A messy garden/incomplete project wouldn’t have put us off, but I think you’d have to work extra hard to have curb appeal elsewhere and maybe tell the estate agent a rough plan of what you would have done if you hadn’t moved, to help people see past the mess.

I remember when we bought one house and the survey showed the garage had asbestos in the ceiling. We said we wouldn’t proceed unless it was professionally removed but the vendor said Nonsense! ... and took it down himself and drove it to the tip.
Rather him than me!