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It’s a property trend that’s swept across the UK in recent years.
But paving over your garden and rendering your home white for a ‘sleek’ modern look could impact the price of your home in the long-run – and annoy your neighbours.
Locals living next to freshly renovated houses have condemned homeowners for destroying the ‘character’ of their property by ripping out greenery in favour of bigger driveways, and covering original features in white plaster.
Others complained of the loss of wildlife as builders strip back lawns and hedges to make way for more parking.
Some homeowners have admitted transforming their property purely to make it more sellable, hoping to make a profit.
But an expert has warned that the ‘trendy’ concrete style is more of an ‘overnight facelift’ than a long-term value booster – and could potentially leave homeowners having to start from scratch.
Charles Whitehead, Director of Pearl Lemon Properties in London, said that while modern renovations can make a house more marketable in the short term, they won’t stay trendy forever.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘For most homeowners, it’s an easy way to upgrade an old home without having to build a new one. Consider it an overnight facelift.
‘While it may not add the character or long-term value that restoration of the original brick would, the appeal of white/grey can make a house more marketable in the short term.
‘It’s a quick hit for a buyer looking to make the house look more ”now”, but not necessarily a long-term value play.’
He added: ‘The catch is that trends don’t stick around forever. Something that appears stylish today may become tired in a few years, and if the job is not done properly, a redo could cost a fortune.
‘Homeowners could find themselves back to square one and have to redo everything when the trendy factor no longer shines.’
While some love the modern look, a property near Callington, Cornwall, has divided opinion among neighbours, after it was purchased by a joiner in 2023 and given a complete makeover.
What used to be a front garden of bushes and grass is now a huge gravel driveway – while the bungalow itself has swapped its stain glass windows for contemporary alternatives and is covered in white render.
The property was purchased for £150,000 in March 2023, and two and a half years later is on the market for £450,000, having been renovated throughout.
One neighbour, who dislikes the appearance of the new driveway on her street, told the Daily Mail: ‘That place has been ruthlessly modernised.
‘I’m sure younger people will like it but a front garden creates character in a property. To rip it out completely and cover the ground with lorry loads of gravel makes it look like a council car park.
‘These bungalows were mostly built in the 1950s. They’re a traditional style so why not respect that and keep them that way.’
Another neighbour disagreed, however, stating: ‘Give me a tidy-looking gravel yard over the weed-filled garden that used to be there any day.
‘Gardens look great when they’re kept up. If you don’t keep them up they lower the tone.’
After buying the three-bed Cornwall bungalow two years ago, joiner John Sciberras began the major renovation, replacing the entire front garden with gravel chippings.
He believes the new driveway, which can now park up to six cars, will be a key selling point.
‘Off-road parking is always good,’ the 60-year-old said.
‘People like the idea of driving straight off the road to park so we made a conscious decision to provide that at the front.
‘It has the added advantage of almost no maintenance although we have planted a hedge which will eventually provide screening.
‘This was a big renovation, inside and out. The outside had become completely overgrown.’
He added: ‘We wanted a cleaner look and we’re only selling now because it feels like the right time to move on.
‘We’ve only just gone back on the market. It’s hard to know how much interest there will be.’
One elderly woman, who moved to the road from a suburban house in London, said she understood Mr Sciberras’s intentions.
‘We couldn’t park on our road in London so we had no choice but to concrete over the front garden,’ she said.
‘I like what John has done over there. I’ve had a nosey around on Google and it looks great inside.
‘They also have a big garden at the back so it’s not as though they’ve got no greenery.’
Another property in Oxford, which is on the market for £775,000, has undergone a similar renovation, replacing its green driveway and brick walls for a stripped-back, modern look.
The bungalow was last sold for £420,000 in 2019, according to UK property portal Zoopla, and has since undergone extensive renovations.
The home was once a red brick bungalow with a large floral segment in the front garden – and is now a two-storey home with a larger driveway.
While modern renovations have divided opinion, the neighbours of one home for sale in Allestree, Derby, say they love the property’s makeover and have been inspired to switch up their own abodes.
Homeowner James Marley transformed his ‘boring’ 1960s red brick bungalow into a sleek white modern home solely to sell it so he can downsize and become mortgage-free.
He replaced the green area of his front garden for stones, which neighbours said future buyers can always add plants to if they wish.
The five-bedroom property is now on the market for £650,000, having last sold in October 2007 for £250,000, according to Zoopla.
The locals, many whom have lived on the road for years, love the look of Mr Marley’s newly designed home.
One living opposite said: ‘I much prefer the white colour to shabby red bricks and it looks very fresh.
‘Anyone who buys it can add some greenery by making borders and planting to putting plants in pots.’
The woman, who declined to be named, added: ‘I think it will sell quickly as it is a lovely quiet neighbourhood. James has done a great job.’
Another neighbour, who has lived in his bungalow for 10 years, said the white-washed look was all the rage now.
‘We want to turn our red bricks into render but I think it may need planning permission. We want that modern look, it looks much better,’ he said.
The man added: ‘The bungalow for sale looks great, as long as it’s kept clean and tidy, we don’t care what colour it is or how many plants there are.’
The resident said another house a few doors down has been transformed into a two-storey, modernised home.
He added: ‘The gardens are large and used to back onto an orchard which are now more homes.
‘It is a wonderful street on the outskirts off Derby city and we have fantastic views over Vicar Wood and arable farming land.’
Speaking of his newly renovated home, Mr Marley said: ‘I didn’t want to keep it red brick, that’s dull and boring.
‘I wanted it to look more modern and white is fresher and has a bigger appeal.’
Mr Marley, who has lived in the property in Derbyshire for 17 years, said he has renovated the house to perfection, insisting: ‘I don’t want anyone to find fault!’
He said that while many of his neighbours had red brick bungalows and gardens full of shrubs and trees, he has opted for a more minimal look – but insisted it is not ‘out of keeping with the street’.
Mr Marley, who is a carpenter, joiner and former property developer, has his pad on the market for £650,000 with Fletcher & Company.
The father said he and his wife ‘want to sell so we can be without a mortgage’.
‘We’ll stay in Allestree because we love liven here but we will buy a cheaper house so we don’t have to have a mortgage,’ he said.
Mr Marley, who has built and sold four houses in the past, said his family have enjoyed living here.
