When you're looking to buy a new home, whether this is your first time or you are a seasoned homebuyer, it's always a good idea to set out what your priorities are. You should also bear in mind that as time goes on, your requirements are likely to have changed, so it's imperative that you view your needs with completely fresh eyes and mind.
For example, ten years ago, you might have prioritised a bustling community, perhaps with a good spread of options for something to do in the evenings at the weekends with your friends. Now, though, you might view the world differently: perhaps you've started a family and need more space and access to good schools; or you've taken on a new job and want to reduce your commute time; or maybe you've learnt from the experience that was the pandemic and all the restrictions that we had to endure and want a home office and/or a bigger garden.
Whatever your reasons, once you are armed with your priorities for a new home, perhaps graded from essential to "nice to have", this will help you to whittle down the many options that the estate agents have sent to you.
What modern homebuyers want: research-based priorities
What is also interesting is to look at the variety of research that has been done that defines what are the usual requirements for the average homebuyer:
Home office space
Whether it's taking over one of the bedrooms or converting the box-room-cum-smallest-bedroom into a place to work, the move towards offsite working (or working from home) has increased the demand for homes to supply the capability, triggered by the effects of the pandemic, the increased pace of technological change, and the reshaping of the approach to working from home.
Strong internet connectivity
The exponential digital revolution in the last twenty years or so, too, has meant that the demand for good connectivity and wi-fi is now an essential daily requirement, particularly with so many operational devices calling on the bandwidth coming into the property. Coupled with the desire for a home office, strong and reliable connectivity is often one of the top requirements from prospective homebuyers.
Smart home features
Smart homes - with so much being available online from shopping to managing the heating in the home, the smart home is increasing in popularity. Coupled therefore with a strong connectivity, the capability for smart home operation has quietly increased from a nice-to-have opportunity to an essential day-to-day requirement.
Energy efficiency
Recent issues with the cost of fuel for heating and the general day-to-day operation of the household and its budget and finances means that the energy efficiency rating of a home (that is, how effective the insulation and other aspects of home is in reducing the use of energy without impacting the expected use of the rooms and other areas within it) is a key measure that drives the decisions of many homebuyers. How much the heating, for example, will cost them, what the fuel source is and how it is used, and what green energy sources are already in place are all questions the homebuyer is now asking.
Sustainable construction
Hot on the tail of energy efficiency, as awareness of climate change and maintaining the environment become ever-increased in focus, is the sustainability of the construction methods and therefore the ongoing maintenance.
Kitchen quality
The kitchen has always been a key driver for decision-making for the homebuyer, and it is unlikely that this will change any time soon, since the kitchen is often the hub of family life, especially because of the aforementioned connectivity also allowing family members to go off and do their own thing in separate parts of the home.
Outdoor living areas
One of the biggest realisations during the pandemic lockdowns was that outdoor space really is important, particularly if there are no public areas that are easily accessible. Therefore, the garden and its size, and even how mature it is, are all factors that come into play in the decision-making process.
Storage solutions
Some people say that you can never have enough storage, but this is a critical requirement for many a homebuyer, particularly if they want to present a minimalist approach to the home (that is, with everything shut away in cupboards and other storage). Garden sheds, garages and loft or cellar spaces then all come into the equation, too, as options for managing the modern requirements for storing possessions.
Adequate bedrooms and living space
This one rarely changes from the critical list for homebuyers. After all, cramming people into a small space can be uncomfortable and means that those affected are unable to feel free to do their own thing. This is particularly important when it comes to a growing family, and planning for future growth.
Parking considerations
It's easy to look at what the house and garden offers you, but parking sometimes is forgotten, particularly in the cases where the home will have to house more than the one vehicle - and the type of property plays into this, too; if you are buying a terraced house, for example, you will probably only have access to onroad parking, and, with the other homeowners vying for a coveted parking space (if not allocated by household), you may find difficulty in parking close to home. Such considerations may not feel that important when viewing the property in the middle of the day but it is a key point for homebuyers to know where they will be able to park.
Making your home buying decision
There are so many things that you'll want to think about when buying your next home, and that whole process can feel overwhelming to point of potentially forgetting something that turns out to be a key requirement that then turns into an issue once you have moved in.
So, take some time to work through all your requirements with those who will be living with you and work out the key priorities and where you are willing to compromise so that you can speed up the decision-making process. And, where there is insufficient information available to help you make that call, don't be afraid to ask the estate agent or even the current homeowner to understand how they live in the property you are looking to buy.
There is a lot to think about, and you want to get it right because buying a home is a significant financial investment, so you'll want to keep all the variety of costs down as much as possible.
When you're ready to move forward with your home purchase, experienced conveyancing support can help ensure a smooth transaction. For professional conveyancing services, call or get a quick quote online.