More than half of prospective homebuyers looking for a new location to move to want to be within a 20-minute walk of a public green space or park, according to an agency’s research of 500 active buyers.
The research, by Jackson Stops, asked what their “must-haves” are when looking for a new area or home.
After access to open space, quick access to work and good transport connections ranked joint second.
The theme for convenience continued in the survey, with 43 per cent of respondents stating that living in an area that has a bustling high street and is rich with local amenities was a top priority; something even more prevalent for movers in the South East (55 per cent) and the North East (48 per cent).
The agency admits its surprise at one entry on the list - the desire to be in a lower council tax band, which was important for over a quarter of respondents, indicative of the toll that sudden inflation of everyday bills is having on middle-earners.
Putting area aside, when asked what prospective homebuyers want from a property, the top four answers at 30% respectively were having a downstairs toilet, a large garden, a home office space, as well as energy saving measures already installed such as solar panels or smart boilers.
Nick Leeming, Chairman of Jackson-Stops, explains: “They say an Englishman’s home is his castle, and the data points to the growing trend towards ready-made convenient living all within touching distance of the home, whether that be the benefit of a downstairs toilet or a shorter commute to work.
He continues, “Buyers looking for green energy measures already installed is a significant trend that is likely to grow in the coming years, removing the inconvenience of exploring these routes themselves as well as installation costs, noting the long terms benefits of lower energy bills. Less disposable income is playing its role in these results, and this is where we might see buyers start to negotiate on asking prices, prioritising a home purchase that is future-proofed from day one.”
The ‘must-haves’ for home buyers when choosing a new area
|
Rank |
“Must-have” when looking for a new area to move to |
Percentage |
|
1 |
Within 20-min walk of public green space or park |
52% |
|
2 |
Within commuting distance from work |
48% |
|
3 |
Good connections: fast train line/ motorway access |
48% |
|
4 |
Amenity rich: shop and restaurants within walking distance |
43% |
|
5 |
Proximity to the countryside |
40% |
|
6 |
Proximity to the coast |
30% |
|
7 |
Lower council tax band |
26% |
|
8 |
An Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rated school |
17% |
The Top 10 ‘must-haves’ for home buyers when choosing a property
|
Rank |
“Must-have” when looking for a home to live in |
Percentage |
|
1 |
Downstairs toilet |
30% |
|
Large garden |
30% |
|
|
Energy saving measures already in place |
30% |
|
|
Home working space / home office |
30% |
|
|
2 |
Master en-suite bathroom |
28% |
|
3 |
Utility room |
26% |
|
4 |
Detached |
26% |
|
5 |
Open plan living and kitchen area |
22% |
|
6 |
Extension potential for when the family grows |
13% |
|
7 |
Walk in wardrobe |
16% |
|
8 |
Pristine interiors |
11% |
|
9 |
Swimming Pool |
11% |
|
10 |
Electric car charging point |
9% |