Drawing on research from one of the UK's largest online estate agents, we share some of the most desirable home features that buyers have been looking for this year.
Those searching for a new home are likely to have a list of things they’re looking for, from the purely practical, like location and number of bedrooms which might be non-negotiable, through to Wishlist features that would be nice to have, like a newly renovated kitchen and period fireplaces.
Whilst modern bathrooms, a slick kitchen, a good sized garden and off road parking might be desirable to most, the things that top most peoples lists change significantly over the years and some of the things that top the list of desirable features in 2022 may not have even featured at all a decade ago.
It’s fair to say that the pandemic saw a huge shift towards homeworking, which has in turn given rise to an increase in demand for home offices or garden office spaces, but other popular features might be more of a surprise.
According to Rightmove, these are the features buyers are looking for in 2022.
Home Features Rising In Popularity
- Garden office
- Bi-folding doors
- Orangery
- Underfloor heating
- Summer house
- Open plan
Less Popular Home Features
- Dining room
- Fitted wardrobes
- Greenhouse
- Conservatory
The number of property listings mentioning garden offices is 11 times higher than it was a decade ago. As estate agents respond to changing demands, so they will actively highlight the elements of a home they know are likely to be in demand.
This rapid increase in demand is more than likely a trend that started at the beginning of the pandemic and as people have adapted their working patterns, with some continuing to work exclusively from home and many others working from home on a regular basis, it’s easy to understand why a garden office is such a sought after feature currently.
So what can you do if you’re selling your home but you don’t have any of this years most sought after features? Don’t despair! Knowing what people are looking for doesn’t mean that not having those things is going to be a deal breaker.
Focus on staging your home in the best possible light and ensure that you demonstrate how flexible spaces in your home and garden can be. A spare bedroom can make a great office for those who need to work from home for example and a good size property plot presents opportunities for extending should a buyer wish to.
If you’re selling a modest size home too, remember, it’s much less likely people are going to expect luxuries like bi-folding doors, underfloor heating and an orangery!
For those planning on selling in the medium to long term though, understanding trends can help you add value in the right area. For example, if you’re thinking of extending or renovating, keeping an eye on current trends can help point you in the right direction so you won’t be spending money on features that are no longer popular with buyers.
If you’re thinking of moving home, don’t forget you can get all of your conveyancing sorted out using an online conveyancing service like Move Home Faster. Get a quick, free conveyancing quote today.