It’s not uncommon knowledge that the property market has been booming over the last 18 months. Due to lockdowns meaning we’ve all spent a lot more time at home, people have realised just how important having outdoor space is to them.
In a bid to uncover what the most important thing is to potential property buyers, we surveyed over 3,000 people to reveal what adds the most value to your home.
Let’s get straight to the results. Our survey revealed that the most important factor to people when buying a new home is the location, with over three-quarters saying they would be willing to pay more for a home in a better location. This was followed by property size (53%) and a landscaped garden or outdoor space (47%), this can easily be achieved by installing a composite decking patio or artificial lawn.
Top turn-offs when it comes to viewing a potential property include messy exteriors, crime rates and being located near busy roads.
97% of those surveyed said that noisy or nuisance neighbours would put them off buying a house, followed by 77% saying the same of being located near a busy main road. Almost three-quarters (70%) revealed a small or scruffy back garden would also put them off buying a property.
The debate between new build and period properties is one that divides a lot of homeowners, with the majority having a strong preference for one over the other.
More than half said they prefer period properties due to their sturdiness, character, and larger rooms compared to just one in 10 voting new build as their preferred property choice for their convenience and low maintenance appeal.
Surprisingly, one in three said they don’t have a preference for the style of property.
Unfortunately, it’s pretty hard to change your neighbours and the location of your home, but there are some things you can do to improve your property value both long and short term.
Property size was voted the 2nd most important factor when buying a property, so adding an extension – or converting an existing space can prove very valuable in the long run if you aren’t planning on selling just yet.
Having a well-kept or landscaped garden came in third, with more than three-quarters of Brits admitting they would offer more for a property that offered this. Adding a composite decking patio can help to add value along with maintaining the low maintenance aspect of a home.
We spoke to Jonathan Rolande, Property Valuer at HouseBuyFast to get some expert advice on the best ways to add value to your property. He said, “A garden can definitely help sell or put people off buying a home, especially post-lockdown. One with space for a shed, trampoline, home office or hot tub will help boost the value.
“Some easy ways you can add value to your home is by de-cluttering and deep cleaning. Re-paint in a plain colour, tidy the garden and use rooms as intended (so take that dusty exercise bike out of Bedroom 3!).”
If you’re interested in adding a composite decking patio area to your home then you can view our range of composite decking and porcelain tiles here.
