Over the last two years buyers’ priorities have completely changed. After 18 months of lockdowns, working from home, isolating, socialising in our gardens and home schooling our children, many people re-evaluated what they wanted from their property.
Add into the mix the stamp duty (LBTT) holiday, historically low borrowing rates, greater mortgage availability and an increase in disposable income due to a lack of travel, eating out and entertainment – the market has been buoyant and demand increasingly high.
Rightmove has carried out some research on how buyers’ priorities have changed. In 2018 ‘garden’ was at the top of the list whereas now ‘acre’ is most keyed-in word suggesting that although space is still important – people want even more space. Another top keyword is ‘annexe’ coming in at third, which didn’t feature in the 2018 and 2019 lists demonstrating the need for more internal space perhaps for the increase in home working.
City commuter towns are in high demand to support the new normal of hybrid working and buyers appear to be looking for a different configuration of space. With members of the family trying to all use the home for a different function at the same time – working from home, studying, exercising, socialising…there has been a distinct move way from open-plan homes to smaller rooms that can be closed off from other areas.
Demand for rooms outside such as a garden office is exceptionally high and can add value to a home as well as super-fast broadband as we have all relied on good connectivity over the last 18 months.
Detached homes with a home office, large garden with an additional outside room, enough bedrooms for family members and a guest room are the dream for most home owners this year. This is especially true if the property is also close to amenities and transport links. Outdoor kitchens and large gardens are also high on buyers’ wish lists.
If you have a wish list of your perfect property, talk to us at Nicol Estate Agents and we can make sure you’re the first to know when something comes up that matches your requirements.