Walk in the park! Top must haves for homebuyers now are to be within a 20-minute walk of big green spaces and the property to have a downstairs loo
- Buyers’ main must-haves for an area and their new property are revealed
- Close to green spaces, public transport and Ofsted rated schools are a priority
Having a public green space on your doorstep is a main priority for more than half of homebuyers, it has been revealed.
Research by Jackson-Stops estate agents surveyed 500 homebuyers who are looking to move within the next three years.
It identified their top must-haves, which also included good transport links to work, and being close to a school that is highly rated by Ofsted. The homebuyers could select up to five options.
Close to green spaces, public transport and Ofsted rated schools are a priority for homebuyers
Having a public green space on your doorstep is a main priority for more than half of homebuyers
Quick access to work and good transport connections ranked joint second place for the top area must-haves.
Nearly half of homebuyers – at 48 per cent – cite this is an essential part of their wish list.
It is followed by 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.
This is something even more prevalent for movers in the South East – at 55 per cent – and the North East – at 48 per cent.
Proximity to the countryside ranked in fifth place at 40 per cent, reflecting a continuation of the ‘race for space’ theme that emerged during the pandemic following several lockdowns.
Also in the list is a desire to be in a lower council tax band. More than a quarter of respondents – at 26 per cent – said this was the case, highlighting the toll that the cost of living crisis is taking on households.
Being close to a coastline is also a main priority for many homebuyers who are looking to move in the next three years
The Jackson-Stops research also looked at what homebuyers want from their next property
Putting area aside, when asked what homebuyers want from a property, the top four answers at 30 per cent 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, of Jackson-Stops, said: ‘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.
‘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.’
Having an electric car charging point came out as a necessity for almost one in ten buyers – at 9 per cent.
This is despite only 16.9 per cent of all new car registrations in Britain being for electric vehicles in May 2023 – although this is a significant increase from the end of 2016 when just 0.4 per cent of all new vehicles registered were electric.
Having quick access to work and good transport connections is among the main must-haves for buyers
Property aspirations were also revealed in the research.
Although not in the top ten, the prominence of prime market features such as a swimming pool at 11 per cent, a walk in wardrobe at 16 per cent, inglenook or working fireplace at 7 per cent, an Aga or double oven at 6 per cent, and a wine cellar at 6 per cent, demonstrate the high-end characteristics that buyers still cherish.
As well as material features, a short completion time was cited as a dealmaker for 6 per cent of buyers in the survey.
Mr Leeming added: ‘In a competitive market, the ability to move quickly or buy a property without an onward chain can be the difference between securing a property or losing out to a buyer that is able to move quicker.
‘A fast move means less chance of the chain collapsing or mortgage offers being pulled. This is a market with a need for speed, and buyers and sellers should work closely with their agent to ensure the most successful outcome.’
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