Broadband speed, energy efficiency, central heating and gardens – what are we talking about? The most in-demand features when looking to sell or rent your home.
As per a recent report by GoCompare Home Insurance here are the most in-demand features when looking for a buyer or tenant for your home and should be front and centre when marketing your property.
Practical features such as central heating, double-glazing, home security and garden space topped the list, while a reliable broadband connection moved up into the top five for the first time – up from 8th place last year. This reflects the increasingly switched on, tech-savvy world we now live in, where fast internet speeds are now a necessity rather than a luxury.
In addition, a clear mobile signal and a good energy efficiency rating both launched themselves into the top 10 for the first time. By contrast, friendly neighbours (9th last year, 12th this) and access to a driveway or dedicated parking space (5th last year, 9th this) both slipped down the rankings.
The property must-haves – by a comfortable margin – were central heating and double glazing (82% and 80% respectively). The importance of a heated home and keeping that heat in is paramount for people.
Security is now a key issue, with 74% of home hunters stating that secure doors and windows were a necessity. Garden space is another popular must-have, especially with families, and 69% of those surveyed put this down as a priority.
The rising importance of technology in the home was also highlighted by the fact that a 'good, reliable broadband connection sufficiently strong enough to stream films and TV' (59%), 'plenty of electrical sockets' (also 59%) and 'a reliable, clear mobile phone signal' (53%) all made the top 10, which also included good access to 'local shops and amenities' (58%).
Lower down the list, but still deemed important by at least half (or just over half) of the respondents, were the presence of 'at least 2 toilets' and 'a bath tub'. A shower cubicle, cavity wall insulation, a living room big enough for a large flat-screen TV, a garage, a dining room, a landline telephone and a new boiler or central heating system made up the rest of the top 20 must-have features.
The not so must-have features
A conservatory, with only 19% regarding this as a must-have in their new home, while wood floors (13%), open plan living spaces (9%) and period features (5%) were other low priorities – in some cases surprisingly so.
The need to be wise to new priorities
While some must-haves always stay the same, others are more fluid – with new top priorities emerging while others slip down the table. Connectivity and energy efficiency, for example, are now major factors, while the research above suggests that the number of electrical sockets in a home is slightly more important than easy access to local amenities.
Fast broadband speeds, meanwhile, are slowly creeping their way up the must-have table, rising by three places in the last year. In a world of Netflix, Now TV and Amazon Prime, the ability to stream with ease is crucial – so broadband signals fast enough to cope with streaming demands.
Fortunately, many of the top 10 must-haves are eminently achievable. It's highly likely that your home will have central heating, double glazing, secure windows, garden space and a reliable broadband connection, although connectivity and a decent broadband width can still be a problem in some areas.
Most homes these days have plenty of electrical sockets for all those tech devices. Local shops and amenities are also a common feature in cities, towns and villages throughout the land, so there is a good chance your property already offers these must-have features.
All in all, you should have a home with plenty of must-have features which will, in turn, improve your chances of selling for a good price.
