When selling a property, homeowners put the most desirable features on the listing to attract as much interest as possible. The fact that the proportion of listings mentioning traditional orangeries has shot up by nearly 200 per cent since 2012 shows just how appealing these features are to potential homebuyers.
According to Rightmove, there has been a 173 per cent rise in the proportion of listings mentioning orangeries in 2022 compared with ten years ago.
Property expert at Rightmove Tim Bannister said this is likely to be the result of people wanting to use their outdoor space more, and enjoy the flexibility of having another reception room.
“Summer houses and orangeries are likely to have fewer or smaller windows than conservatories, and so can more suitable double up as home offices during the week and entertaining spaces at the weekend,” Mr Bannister stated.
The findings also revealed garden offices being named in listings has gone up by 1,046 per cent over the decade, reflecting the changing trend to work from home more often.
Meanwhile bi-fold doors have risen by 589 per cent, summer houses have increased by 90 per cent, and open plan layouts by 74 per cent.
On the other hand, the popularity of dining rooms, fitted wardrobes and greenhouses have all declined since 2012, at a rate of 28 per cent, 29 per cent and 46 per cent respectively.
Homebuyers might also be interested in purchasing a property with an orangery as it future proofs their asset. By acquiring a larger living space now, they will be able to stay in the property for longer instead of having to climb the housing ladder again in a few years.
This is particularly appealing as property values have increased by more than £30,000 over the year, and are continuing to rise, with Halifax revealing they grew by 0.4 per cent in August alone.