According to a survey commissioned by Foxtons, location tops the popularity charts when it comes to choosing a property. But of course, there are plenty of other factors that determine how popular a property is.
From the size, to the décor, these are the top 10 most important factors that the British public consider when searching for a property.
1. Location, location, location
It comes as no surprise that location is the key factor when searching for a property, with 85% of you saying that it is the most important thing when finding your perfect home.
Whether it’s nearby cafes and restaurants, or the need for quality schools in the local area, location takes top priority.
Although in our experience, around 1 in 3 people buy or rent a property in an area that they didn’t initially look in – it’s only after people start their search that they realise their perfect property is actually in another location.
2. Property size
Next on the list is size. And whether you’re a first-time buyer hoping for a two bed instead of one, or retired and looking to downsize, the size of a property will have a big impact on its popularity.
In fact, nearly 72% of you said that size is one of the most important factors that drives your property search.
3. Garden or outdoor space
While over 20% of Britons only spend a maximum of 2 hours in their garden every month, 62% of people answering the survey said that having a garden or outdoor space is important to them when finding the perfect property.
While having a garden is a luxury in some parts of London, there are plenty of ways to transform any outside space to make it as usable as possible.
4. Easy parking
Whether it’s your own private driveway or, at the very least, permit parking on the road, over 50% of Britons consider easy parking to be one of the most important things when choosing a new home.
While older properties usually offer first-come-first-serve parking outside on the road, many new build homes come with a parking space in the development.
Parking permits are available in most London boroughs, but there are still some parts of London where parking on the road is free and unrestricted.
5. Having a garage
Many Londoners know that a property with a garage can be difficult to come by, as space is at a premium.
But buying a garage could be an option if you find the perfect home without one.
6. Closeness to transport links
One in three people in our survey said that closeness to transport links was important to them when searching for a property. And this number is likely to be higher in London, where people are more reliant on public transport to get to work and school.
Our tube search tool will help you find a property close to the stations of your choice, rather than finding a property and realising it’s a 20 minute walk from the nearest station.
7. Council tax band
The amount you pay in council tax varies greatly from borough to borough and then again by council tax band.
Council tax bands were originally calculated using property values in 1991. But for new properties, or ones that have changed considerably, council tax bands are calculated based on a number of factors, including size and location.
Here, you can find where London's lowest council tax areas are. And you might be surprised to hear that it’s not Wandsworth, contrary to popular belief.
8. State of the neighbour’s garden
Perhaps surprisingly at number 8, is the state of the neighbouring property’s garden.
That’s even ahead of a property’s décor! In fact, 24% of Britons will take into account the state of the neighbour’s garden when searching for a property. Although that’s probably because the state of the garden is often a reflection of the people that live next door...
9. Size of the bathroom
We’re often told anecdotally that kitchens and bathrooms sell properties. So, if this is the case, then we’re not surprised to see that the size of a property’s bathroom features in the top 10 factors that affect a property’s popularity.
Whether it’s a cosy cloakroom or a large bathroom for long soaks, 23% of those surveyed consider the size of the bathroom in their property search.
10. Interior décor
Last on the list is interior décor, with nearly 19% of Britons surveyed saying it’s an important factor when searching for a property.
While décor is an important factor, it’s always worth bearing in mind that it can be easily changed and you don’t have to break the bank when you’re redecorating.
This is probably why décor comes in last on the list, as it’s perhaps the easiest thing to change.
If you're thinking of changing your interior décor, take a look at our home inspiration section for some design ideas.
