- Warmth and energy efficiency are the key priorities for buyers with central heating and double-glazing filling the top slots
- Reliable broadband and phone signals are ranked above highly-rated schools
- Only 7 percent of buyers consider period features as a property must-have
Period features and good schools are often cited as property characteristics that snag homebuyers but most have much simpler priorities, a new survey suggests.
GoCompare Mortgages asked 2,000 Britons what their top property must-haves would be: warmth and energy efficiency were surprising priorities, with central heating and double-glazing filling the top slots.
Buyers also rank reliable broadband and phone signals above highly-rated schools and properties with period features.
They are also more concerned about having off-road parking than a garage and a living room big enough for a large flat screen TV over period features.
Only 7 percent of buyers consider period features as a property must-have, while 15 percent say access to good local schools was an essential factor.
Gocompare.com's mortgage spokesman Matt Sanders said: 'It's clear that today's potential homebuyers are putting practical concerns ahead of aesthetics. They are looking for warm, cosy properties, which are energy efficient and well connected to modern amenities rather than ones that are full of character.'
He added: 'For many buyers, the on-going costs of running a home - paying the mortgage, utility bills and council tax - are a real concern. It's perhaps unsurprising then that well-insulated homes and efficient central heating systems are key priorities.'
Aspects of bathrooms feature high on the list of must-haves - such as a bathtub (57 per cent) and a separate shower cubicle (47 per cent). However, bathrooms can be costly to repair, so Mr. Saunders advised buyers to test the plumbing during a property viewing by flushing the toilets, running taps and checking under the sinks for any leaks.
The survey also highlights the importance of technology, from streaming live TV and films to reliance on mobile phones.
More than half of buyers consider a reliable broadband connection strong enough to stream films and TV as important.
'For many people, access to both a strong internet connection and a reliable mobile phone service have become modern home essentials,' said Mr. Saunders.
It follows TV's Kirstie Allsopp suggesting it could be about even more. She told MailOnline: 'It is a given that it is about location. A location is everything. But once you have got the location, what often makes people choose one property other another is perhaps something people don't even acknowledge themselves - and that's aspiration.'
She explained: 'Potential buyers look around a house and it could be a holiday picture or a book, something they want to do or be, and that often seals the deal - especially when choosing between two houses.'
Separate research published last month identified the fastest selling locations, with Dartford topping the list.
Homes in the Kent borough sell around six times faster than the national average, typically taking 16 days compared to almost three months, according to the findings by property website Rightmove.
Top 20 Property ‘must-have’ Features
- Central heating
- Double grazing
- A garden
- Secure doors and windows
- Off road parking
- A bath tub
- Local shops and amenities
- Friendly neighbours
- A good, reliable broadband connection
- A good energy efficiency rating
- A land line telephone
- A good TV signal
- A separate shower cubicle
- Cavity wall insulation
- At least two toilets
- A dining room
- A reliable and clear mobile phone signal
- A garage
- A living room
- An en-suite bathroom
Reference: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-3496612/Top-20-features-sell-home-property-factors-buyers-look-for.html