What homebuyers want most: kitchen updates beat kerb appeal

If you're planning to sell your home, you might be surprised to learn that the traditional advice about 'kerb appeal' could be costing you money. A new survey of 317 property buyers and sellers across England and Wales reveals what really influences buying decisions.

Percentage of buyers who rated each feature as important (after price and location):

• 77% - Updated kitchen/bathroom
• 55% - Attractive garden
• 30% - Low-maintenance garden
• 28% - Neutral décor (blank canvas)
• 23% - Kerb appeal
• 21% - New carpets

For a couple of decades at least, property programmes on television have banged on about the importance of "kerb appeal".

The term itself has been in use since the mid-fifties, but has recently gained considerable traction. It's a perfect choice of words to describe the importance of presentation of a home by sellers. Just as human beings make snap judgments about other people within the first few seconds of meeting them for the first time, so the theory goes that the same applies to your first impression as you drive up to a property you are about to view.

And certainly it's important to present the home inside and out in its best way possible to give a positive reaction from the moment the prospective buyer steps on to the kerb ready to have a more detailed look around the home.

But just how important is that kerb appeal against all the other priorities that the buyer has and seller must prepare their home to exhibit?

Are buyers now too savvy about the tricks of the trade that what was considered to be a critical consideration like kerb appeal is now a minor factor in the grand scheme of things?

And, if kerb appeal is falling down the list, what is the most important element of preparing a home as far as the majority of buyers are concerned?

Survey reveals buyer preferences

A survey carried out on behalf of property service provider LRG, which surveyed 317 buyers and sellers across England and Wales, has provided an interesting insight into what the top deciding factors are after the price and location has been removed from the list.

As reported in Estate Agent Today and elsewhere, it was an updated kitchen or bathroom that swayed their decision, which polled 77% of the respondents in the survey. 55% cited an attractive garden as being one of the most important considerations, while 30% suggested the importance of low-maintenance gardens. 28% suggested that a blank canvas inside the home (that is, neutral colours from which they can better visualise and plan their own décor) was important to them.

The surprising truth about kerb appeal

When it comes to kerb appeal - such as clean and brightly-painted windows, front doors and a well-kept front garden - only 23% of those surveyed thought that this was important. Close behind it came new and clean carpets at 21%.

What this underlines is that kerb appeal remains significant, but there are several other factors which will impress a prospective buyer and would give the seller a better chance of receiving an offer from viewers.

As Kevin Shaw, national sales managing director at LRG, said of the survey results:

"Buyers are clearly telling us that a spotless, well-maintained property can be highly persuasive.

"Although it doesn't quite rival the influence of updated kitchens and bathrooms, cleanliness outranks factors such as neutral décor, new carpets and even kerb appeal.

"Yet many sellers invest heavily in costly renovations while sometimes overlooking the importance of basic presentation."

Shaw added:

"The gap between what sellers believe buyers want and what truly motivates offers can cost them thousands.

"A seller might invest over £5,000 in on-trend neutral paint and new carpets throughout their home, yet only 28% of buyers place neutral décor among their top three priorities.

"That same seller could have achieved a stronger response simply by ensuring the property was impeccably clean and the garden well presented."

So, if you are considering selling your property, the presentation of the home is by far the most important factor in a buyer's decision as to whether to put forward an offer or not.

Smart investment vs unnecessary spending

While new kitchens and bathrooms might be the over-riding factor in the survey for the majority of buyers, you should think carefully about investing in an upgrade just to get a better chance to sell the property since you are unlikely to make that money back.

It would be a much better use of your time to present the home as clean and well-maintained. After all, whatever you do to upgrade those key rooms, there is also a good chance that your taste might be off-putting to prospective buyers.

Practical tips for maximising your sale

It would be more prudent, armed with this knowledge of what buyers are looking for, to consider lowering your asking price to encourage your buyers to make an acceptable offer. And be guided by the estate agent - they are there to sell the property to your buyers on your behalf.

Before putting the property on the market, list the things that need to be done to better present the home as it is. And think about decluttering and presenting each room as a spacious place in which any prospective buyer could imagine living.

Key takeaways from the survey:

• Focus on cleanliness and maintenance over expensive renovations
• Well-presented gardens matter more than kerb appeal
• Basic presentation can be more effective than costly updates
• Consider price adjustments rather than major renovations

Whether you're buying or selling, you need conveyancing that puts your needs first. Homeward Legal provides fixed-fee quotes with no hidden costs and a 'no completion, no fee' guarantee.

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