What Buyers Want from a Home

According to a new study by Nationwide Building Society, the majority of UK home buyers preferred a house with environmentally friendly features. 82% of respondents claimed a house with features such as solar panels, had more of an influence on their decision to buy than attic rooms (68%), period features (63%) and walk-in wardrobes (62%).

The Research also showed that 54% of respondents believed the kitchen to be the most influential room of a house, when it comes to making a decision to buy. This was followed closely by the sitting room, the bathroom was one of the rooms least likely to influence a purchase decision.

When asked what put them off buying a property:

• 94% would be put off by a home that was potentially at risk of flooding;
• Poor building work or DIY was off putting according to almost 91% of respondents
• 88% claimed their decision would be affected by the property being close to a busy road or railway line
• An untidy house would turn off (55%) and the direction of the garden e.g. north facing would put off (48%)
• Jacuzzis, wet rooms and garden decking were least likely to tempt potential buyers.

Nationwide chief economist, Fionnuala Earley, said: “It is great to see that, given the choice, most of us would opt for a ‘green’ home, although there’s currently no evidence to suggest that environmentally friendly properties command a higher price. Having said that, with the recent publication of the government’s climate change bill and the pressure on households to become more energy efficient, it is inevitable that environmental home improvements will have some impact on house prices over the long-term”.