Estate agents report seeing a price boosting ‘Ground Force Effect’ for outdoor living in the garden. The Home Sale Network, with 720 of the country’s leading independent estate agents, say that most of their members have spotted the effect on house prices this summer.

Almost two thirds (61%) report an increased interest among potential buyers in houses with outdoor living features, inspired by TV gardening programmes like ‘Ground Force’ by presenters Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock.

Top of the potential-buyers’ wish list is decking (39%), followed by brick patios at 19%.

Almost half of Home Sale Network members (44%) report that the Ground Force effect could add at least £3,000 to a property’s value, with some even reporting that gardens with these outdoor-living features can boost house prices by more than £10,000.

More important, at a time when house-sales have slowed down, is their finding that it takes two weeks less to sell homes with outdoor-living features. A third of Home Sale Network agents (33%) report that the Ground Force effect can speed up sales by four weeks or more.

According to Richard Tucker, national director of Home Sale Network: “There is no secret that the housing market has distinct seasons.”

“Alan Titchmarsh and his team have brought an entirely new dimension to the summer season, at a time when prices remain stable but sales have become more challenging.”