Homesellers

When it comes to selling a home, it’s vitally important that you have a good handle on what buyers are looking for. What features are buyers looking for in their new home?

While trends tend to come and go year-on-year, which means homebuyer preferences towards property features can change suddenly, there are some features which remain universally popular and some that have received a boost post-pandemic.

As a seller, instead of lagging behind the curve and receiving lower offers on your home, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve to improve your chances of selling quickly and for the best possible price.

Sellers need to be aware of the current home features that are trending to be sure that prospective buyers take note of their property, and eventually sign papers to make the sale official – after all, a buyer’s opinion matters hugely when it comes to successful sales.

Here, we outline what the latest research suggests buyers are prioritising when it comes to purchasing a property.

Garden offices, bi-fold doors and optimising space

According to recent findings by Rightmove, what buyers want has been impacted by changing working patterns, the increase in remote working and the need to optimise space to a greater degree than ever before.

The property website’s research revealed that garden offices, orangeries, summer houses, underfloor heating, bi-fold doors and open-plan rooms have all surged in popularity since the pandemic began. By comparison, conservatories, greenhouses, dining rooms and fitted wardrobes would all appear to be falling in popularity.

The number of property listings now mentioning garden office have soared by a huge 1,046% in the last decade, with the lockdowns caused by the pandemic no doubt boosting this popularity considerably in the last few years.

Any garden office worth its salt will have WiFi, mains electric and air-conditioning systems – as Rightmove points out, we’re not just talking about a room in a shed here! Times have changed and garden offices are likely to have significantly more appeal now than they did even a few short years ago, when remote working was more niche.

Bi-fold doors, orangeries and summer houses have all risen in popularity, too, according to the portal. The flexibility of these spaces – which could be easily used as a gym, an office or a playroom, as well as a snug at night – has helped to boost their appeal to buyers.

“With outside space coming at such a premium, it may be that homeowners are ensuring what they build outside can be used in a number of different ways. Summer houses and orangeries are likely to have fewer or smaller windows than conservatories, and so can more suitably double up as home offices during the week and entertaining spaces at the weekend,” Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, said.

As a seller, installing a garden room/office can create additional space/rooms without breaking the bank, confident in the knowledge that these spaces are increasingly appealing to buyers.

Equally, the Rightmove research highlighted the growing popularity of open-plan living, which continues to be more favoured among would-be buyers. Bi-fold doors can further emphasise and increase this by extending the outside in and vice versa.

Meanwhile, findings from Fortune Builders have unveiled the top 10 most important features for buyers in 2022. While the website is aimed at an American audience, it has plenty of crossover with Britain, with updated kitchens and baths, open-floor plans, low maintenance features, energy efficiency and wireless connectivity all featuring prominently.

At the higher end of the market, meanwhile, for those who can afford the lap of luxury, there are a number of needs that owners of million-pound properties have in common.

Research carried out by Genesis Collection, windows and doors specialists, found seven unique features that cropped up regularly. Even better, these homes features are readily available to the wider public, meaning anyone can add a bit of luxury to their home to widen its appeal.

Popular features included floor to ceiling glass doors, increasingly trendy in recent years and the staple of any designer home that features in British dramas, as well as freestanding bathtubs, kitchen islands, fireplaces, open-plan spaces (once again), and bespoke furnishings and ornaments.

Dedicated additional spaces

Buyers are also increasingly interested in dedicated spaces they can work from as much of the population continues to operate on a hybrid working basis.

Creating an office space, either entirely separate from the home itself, or as mentioned, simply installing a designated space within the property, could add lots of value to your home. As we know, far more people have been working from home since Covid began, and buyers have unsurprisingly shown increasing interest in home office spaces.

The good news is that virtually any spare space can be designed as a home office. Some popular home office features include French doors, built-in bookshelves, and plenty of natural light.

Bi-fold doors can be a great option for when you’re creating your designated spaces, consisting of a number of aluminium panels which fold back onto one another in a concertina arrangement. This is not only an excellent space saving alternative compared to French doors, but the glazed panels also enable light to be flooded throughout the home.

Another feature buyers in 2022 are also on the look out for is half bathrooms. In a half bathroom, there’s no shower and only a toilet with a sink. These dedicated spaces are designed to be functional and simple, free of clutter such as bath toys, makeup, toothpaste, etc.

While half bathrooms were once regarded as an antiquated and unnecessary home feature, they are experiencing a resurgence in desirability and popularity.

Smart home features

Smart homes have become increasingly attractive to buyers in recent years as the UK continues to embrace its futuristic side. Not only will these features entice homebuyers, but many of these elements also benefit the environment and improve energy efficiency within a home.

Installing a smart thermostat will be an inexpensive way to start upgrading your home and these can make a significant difference to potential buyers as they will already know that your property will come with lower energy bills while simultaneously regulating the temperature throughout the home.

A ring video doorbell system could also pique the interest of potential buyers since this feature will provide additional security and peace of mind, whilst a keyless smart lock system installation could add convenience to your home. What’s more, smart light bulbs have also been trending since they are motion-sensing and remotely accessible.

Semi-open floor plans

A must-have feature for homebuyers in 2022 is a semi-open floor plan as a choppy plan with rooms broken up into segments could take longer to sell. The dining room can still be on its own, but it is suggested that the kitchen opens to some sort of family room.

While this change might call for some walls to be knocked down and possibly adjusting the kitchen plan, it could ultimately be worthwhile. Kitchens are one of the most used areas in a home where many interactions take place between those living there, so it’s important to make them a welcoming, inviting feature of a home.

A kitchen island with a semi-open or open floor plan is also a fantastic option to create the ultimate entertaining and social space for a family. They also provide extra storage along with a drizzle of style – producing a lovely focal point in any kitchen space.

What features have gone out of style in 2022?

As much as you want to add a few features to your home before you put it on the market, you should also be aware of some trends that have not made the cut this year.

Firstly, the colour grey is definitely out and, speaking of colours, all white kitchens are also being left behind, replaced with more colourful interior schemes.

The next feature which has gone down in popularity is granite countertops, which have been a long-standing desirable feature for many buyers in the past. Instead, buyers are more likely to opt for quartz, marble, and even porcelain. Depending on the style of your home, you can even go for natural options such as butcher block, or even concrete.

Lastly, shiplap has also not made the cut for 2022 home interior feature trends and has instead been replaced by wooden panels, wood planking, nickel gap planks, or board and batten.

Here at Leanne Kent Property, we are a locally based estate agent covering South Wales, providing a unique buyingand selling experience for our clients. We are a technology-driven estate agency meaning that you remain informed and in control at every stage. Your property will be marketed on the leading property portals, social media, and of course, our very own website.

We believe that as a homeowner, you should be treated with fairness and transparency. This means we offer a very competitive and unique fixed fee structure, which we believe is a fair price to pay for the professional services involved with marketing and selling your property.

We will work hard to achieve the best sale price from the moment you list with us to the moment your home has sold.