// Property


Through The Keyhole


Our England is a garden…


June and July are dangerous months to view property. Most of us are susceptible to the seductive charms of a garden in full bloom, and it’s easy to see from Amanda MacCaw’s property selection that we could easily fall in love with the dappled sunshine under an apple tree, a vista through a stone mullioned window, woodland and river, sun soaked terrace, a wild flower meadow, paddock with grazing, gleaming horses, foals at their side. So, as a property buyer you need to be very, very cautious!


Craig Fuller of Stacks Property Search in Gloucestershire says, “Purchasers should assess a garden in much the same way as they assess the house itself. Prepare a list of priorities that address size, shape, what you will use it for, safety, maintenance, and how much work you are prepared to do to make it suitable.


“Size of garden is probably one of the most important factors. The size should suit the house, and the property should sit comfortably within the plot. A garden that is too small for a property can be a massive deal-breaker, so even if it suits you to have a postage stamp of a garden with a large house, when it comes to selling, you may well encounter problems.


“Remember, if you have a rough and tumble lifestyle with kids and dogs, the garden will need to withstand the rigours of hard


use. Complicated, high maintenance gardens may not be for you, however beautiful they look.


“Always be aware of aspect. Which way does the garden face, when will different parts be in the sun and the shade, and will it be exposed to strong winds? If a particular aspect is important to you, visit the house at different times of day to establish the facts.


“For complicated gardens and land, ask the owners how much maintenance is required, what equipment they have, or how many hours a week a gardener works. High maintenance gardens can of course be simplified by the removal of beds or increasing areas of lawn or ‘wild’ garden.


“If the property is Listed, or if it’s in a conservation area, there may be restrictions on what you can erect or remove within the boundaries of the garden. Also check whether there are any Tree Preservation Orders.”


So, you have been warned! Now read on if you dare to be seduced….


Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made By singing, “Oh, how beautiful,” and sitting in the shade. Rudyard Kipling


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