Future changes in what makes a property desirable to sell or buy

HIGH-speed internet connections are desirable but swimming pools are a nono.

This is according to online property seller PropertyFox‚ which has compiled its predictions for the top five factors expected to change the way people buy and sell property in 2017.

“We anticipate 2017 will be a time when the industry disruption which has been gathering steam this year‚ really takes hold. And when consumers look for creative ways to make their properties work for them‚” said Ashley James‚ co-founder of PropertyFox.

Here are five of the key changes PropertyFox expects to see in 2017:

● Fibre home – a sales point

Areas where fibre is fully installed will be in high demand. The stable and fast internet connection makes working from home a more viable option.

“This will be a drawcard for entrepreneurs‚ gamers and families who use internet for TV‚ edu entertainment and more.”

● Houses with boreholes are now more attractive than in the growing those with pools.

“Linked to this‚ houses which are eco-friendly in terms of electricity, which is now over-the-top expensive, and water will grow in demand as they keep monthly costs down and will be easy to sell‚” the company said.

● Owners will find other ways to earn income from their homes.

People will increasingly look to “sweat their assets” bec firstly‚ sites like Airbnb make it very easy to do so and‚ secondly‚ well that sluggish economy is forcing them to get creative‚ PropertyFox said.

This trend will also impact decoration decisions as the more clean and neutral look goes down better on Airbnb.

Related to this is getting a lodger to help cover costs.

● Mom and pop investors swapping stocks for brick and mortar.

Confidence in returns from stock markets have been low for some time and prevailing political and economic upheaval mean this is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Because property is a bricks and mortar investment which almost always delivers some sort of return‚ many “moms and pops” are choosing to invest their retirement money in property. The guaranteed rental income can be a safer bet than stock market returns‚ it reckoned.

● Estate commission scrutiny.

For years commissions have been pretty static‚ roughly between 5%and 7% of the sale price.

“But the way that property is sold has changed‚ thanks to technology‚ and the hard costs of bringing the property to market are way lower now.” PropertyFox said. agent under

It predicted a growth in its business and similar offerings‚ as online sales “disrupters” typically charge consumers less than traditional agents. — TMG Digital