The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
20 features that will sell your home
Efficient central heating systems, double glazing, and secure doors and windows have come out top of a list of property must-have features, while having a good broadband connection is deemed more important than having friendly neighbours.
House-hunters also rated gardens rather than garages, and a good reliable mobile phone signal as opposed to a landline phone connection, while good schools, open plan kitchens and living areas and period features all failed to make the property ‘must-have' top 20 according to research from Gocompare.com.
The full top 20 features included: 1. Central heating 2. Double glazing 3. A garden 4. Secure doors and windows
5. Driveway or dedicated parking space
6. Plenty of electrical sockets
7. Local shops and amenities
8. A good, reliable broadband connection strong enough to stream TV and films 9. Friendly neighbours 10. At least two toilets 11. A bath 12. A good energy efficiency rating
13. A new boiler/central heating system
14. A reliable, clear mobile phone signal 15. A shower cubicle 16. A garage 17. Cavity wall insulation
18. A land line telephone
19. A living room big enough for a large, flat screen television
20. A dining room
Several previous ‘must haves' failed to make an appearance in the top 20 with the survey signalling the end of the period features craze. Likewise, more buyers were concerned with having a garden than a conservatory.
However, the biggest surprise was that only 13% of those surveyed said access to good local schools was an essential factor in buying a new home.
Matt Sanders from Gocompare.com Home Insurance said: “Buying a home is a major investment and while most of us will only buy a house if it ‘feels right', our survey should hopefully give those looking to sell their home a steer on what buyers are after.
“We found that many potential buyers are prioritising efficiency, security and connectivity over aesthetic features.
“This suggests that modern buyers are buying with their heads rather than their hearts and that investing in things like a new boiler, additional electrical sockets or modernising your home's insulation could be a smarter investment than traditional selling points such as period features or conservatories.
“If you're not looking to invest further in the property in order to sell, then it's worth making small changes to the décor when it comes time to sell. Making your home seem warmer, fresher and more secure could have a positive effect on potential buyers. So, even if it's not to your personal taste consider opting for earthy warm colours over greys, blacks and metallic colours.
“It is surprising to see previous must-haves such as good schools and conservatories fail to make the top 20. However, our research shows that buyers are becoming more financially savvy and are willing to make compromises on the finer details of a property to keep costs down and avoid expensive work in the future."