Top 7 Questions to Ask When Viewing a Property If You Want a Garden Room
If you’re house-hunting and dreaming of a stylish garden office, studio or gym, it pays to think ahead. Garden rooms have become one of the UK’s fastest-growing home upgrades, with Google searches up more than 25% since 2019 and enquiries rising by 30% year-on-year. Remote working, larger gardens in new builds and the desire for flexible, value-adding space are all fuelling demand.
A high-quality garden room can add 5–15% to a home’s resale price according to recent surveys.
But not every property is equally suited to having a garden room. Asking the right questions when you view a house can save you headaches later. Here are the seven key things to check before you sign on the dotted line.
1. How Big Is the Garden — and What’s the Access Like?
A garden room needs space for delivery of panels and equipment. Measure the garden and check for side or rear access: is there a clear path for materials, or would everything have to go through the house? Bigger gardens (especially in newer developments) make installation far easier.
You can build right up to the boundary with our unique construction system
2. What’s the Sunlight and Aspect?
Spend time in the garden at different times of day if you can. A south-facing area may give a warm, bright workspace, but you’ll also need shading; a north-facing spot could mean less overheating in summer but more heating in winter. Understanding the light helps you pick the perfect position for your future garden room.
3. Are There Any Planning Restrictions?
Most garden rooms fall under permitted development, but larger sizes, listed buildings, conservation areas or restrictive covenants can complicate things. Ask the seller or estate agent about planning history and any local restrictions before you buy.
4. What’s the Ground Like — Flat, Sloped, Wet?
A level, well-drained plot keeps groundwork simple and costs down. Slopes, tree roots or poor drainage may mean extra foundation work. If you’re buying a new build, check with the developer whether the garden will be turfed, levelled or left as bare soil.
Our garden room kits are available with our unique foundation system. Featuring our heavy duty composite posts which can be concreted into the ground, with a stainless steel frame bolted on which lifts the studio off the ground, leaving a breathable space, removing the risk of rising damp and condensation. Ideal for flat, sloped or wet ground.
5. Where Are the Services?
If you want electrics, internet or plumbing in your garden room, think about how you’d run cables or pipes from the main house. Ask to see the fuse box and broadband router location. Shorter runs = lower installation cost.
We recommend ensuring your garden room has excellent insulation to keep your bills low! Saving money on your build may cost you in the long run.
Our Garden Room SIPS Kits will include structurally insulated panels (SIPs) which offer highly efficient thermal values and exceptional strength. The wall thickness is 100mm & the floor is 130mm, making our studios warm in the winter and cool in the summer, with good sound-proofing.
6. Is There Enough Privacy and Noise Separation?
One of the biggest reasons new homeowners want a garden room is to create a quiet, dedicated space for work or hobbies. When viewing, look at neighbouring properties, fences and sightlines. Will you need extra screening or planting to make the garden room feel private?
Make your self build garden room work for you with our multiple configurations
7. How Will a Garden Room Affect Resale Value?
High-quality garden rooms can add 5–15% to a property’s value and make it more attractive to future buyers. Ask the estate agent how outdoor buildings are perceived locally, and check if nearby homes with garden rooms are selling for more.
Our insulated garden rooms are high performing, low maintenance
7. Bonus Tip: Timing Your Installation
Even if the property ticks all the boxes, you’ll still need to decide when to install your garden room. Some buyers arrange for a self-build kit or installer to start work before they move in (great for clear access and immediate use). Others wait a few months to understand how they’ll use the space. Either way, factor the cost and lead times into your moving budget
Pent Haus Garden Rooms are designed to be easy to build, with no specialist skills required! Our Garden Rooms can be built within 3 days with 2 people.
Final thoughts
With hybrid working, larger gardens and the desire for flexible space, garden rooms are no longer an afterthought — they’re a key part of many buyers’ plans. By asking these questions when viewing a property, you’ll know whether your dream garden office, gym or studio will be easy to achieve and how to budget for it.
At Pent Haus, we manufacture high-quality self-build garden rooms and work with a nationwide installer network to make the process smooth for new homeowners. Get in touch with us for a free quote or to request our brochure
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