Today’s buyer trends

Property Types

To quote Zoopla, “the bigger the better” is a major factor for all buyers.
Around 80% of people are looking for room for their family to grow, study space and/or more room to enjoy leisure activities.
Detached and semi-detached homes with a minimum of three bedrooms are in high demand, whilst modern apartments are also popular.
A real bonus for sellers, many buyers are using saved equity to make their property purchase, meaning a simpler, faster sale.

Energy Efficiency

A real plus for the environment, the rising cost of energy means around 70% of buyers are attracted by a good EPC rating when choosing a home.
Brand new properties are leading the way, with excellent energy ratings. Right now, 94% available on the market offer ratings of ‘C’ and above.
If you’re selling your own home, having a ‘C’ or above is likely to place you at an advantage. Whilst not adding to the price, a better energy rating could enhance buyer interest.

Parking

A trend that’s set to continue, parking space has long proven popular with buyers. 94% of those surveyed wanted off-road parking, with many preferring a garage or driveway. Popular Zoopla searches confirm this, with “garage” and “garden” in the top 2 keywords for 3 years running.

Outdoor Space

Almost always attractive to buyers, having a garden has been a prominent factor since lockdown, and remains so. Around 93% of people want outside space with their next property, with 45% of these wanting a large garden and 13% a balcony.

Sought After Locations

The trend for people looking to live in quieter locations continues, especially for individuals and couples planning to start a family. Around 65% of those surveyed were looking to re-locate to rural areas in the south east, a number of which our Mackenzie Smith branches: Ash Vale, Hartley Wintney and Hook, cover.
Suburban and more urban destinations in our local areas were also popular destinations for a new home, covered by our offices in Yateley, Farnborough, Fleet and Aldershot, and offering excellent commuter links.

Satisfied Buyers

Overall satisfaction was shown by those where the time between the sale agreed and exchange completion was faster. Short periods of around 65 days resulted in happy buyers, whereas those taking 91 days were content.
Communication was highlighted as welcome in improving the speed of the sale. Here at Mackenzie Smith, we receive many five star reviews praising our communications.
We also offer a reservation agreement to our clients, strengthening communications between buyers and sellers from the start, and providing solutions to possible exchange issues in advance.

If you’re considering selling your property, contact your local branch for an up-to-date valuation or advice. Right now, you could be in with a chance of selling your home for free with our autumn competition.