We recently commissioned a nationwide survey to understand what modern Brits really look for in a new home. With property prices rising and generational expectations higher than ever, this research revealed the most important ‘must-have’ features that individuals aged 35 and under are searching for in their dream home. Check out the results below:
| When it comes to buying a home, are there certain features that are essential to you? | |
|---|---|
| Yes – definitely | 81.9% |
| Yes – maybe | 16.8% |
| No | 1.3% |
| Do you think your expectations for your first home are/were higher than those of previous generations? | |
|---|---|
| Yes – definitely | 57.7% |
| Yes – maybe | 31.0% |
| No | 11.3% |
| Which of the following features are, or would be, important to you when buying a home? | |
|---|---|
| Garden firepit | 10.7% |
| Spa style bathroom | 13.6% |
| Kitchen island | 25.5% |
| An electric vehicle charging point | 12.9% |
| Smart kitchen appliances throughout | 17.2% |
| Nearby farmer’s market | 8.2% |
| Nearby Deli | 6.1% |
| Smart heating | 25.9% |
| Nearby to a park or large green space | 28.7% |
| An open plan living space | 25.3% |
| Space for a home office | 30.6% |
| Alfresco gardening dining area | 11.1% |
| Smart security cameras and doorbells | 18.8% |
| Privacy | 44.1% |
| Garden big enough for a vegetable patch or greenhouse | 23.0% |
| Garden pod or summer house | 12.5% |
| Stained glass windows | 9.1% |
| Walk in shower | 27.7% |
| En-suite | 33.2% |
| A porch | 23.8% |
| A large hallway | 27.7% |
| Patterned tiled floors | 10.4% |
| Granite worktops | 12.4% |
| Walk-in wardrobes | 21.0% |
| Farrow and Ball walls | 6.0% |
| Plug sockets with USB ports | 23.4% |
| Outdoor kitchen | 9.4% |
| Within an “Instagrammable” or picturesque area | 10.9% |
| Near traditional amenities like a butcher’s, retail shops, greengrocer’s etc | 18.1% |
| Luxury vinyl flooring | 11.4% |
| Solid oak interior doors | 11.0% |
| Spotlights and downlights | 17.1% |
| Bi-fold doors | 12.7% |
| Hidden storage | 28.1% |
| Floor to ceiling windows | 11.3% |
| Chrome radiators | 9.0% |
| Full height bathroom tiling | 15.8% |
| Hardwood flooring | 19.7% |
| None of the above | 2.2% |
| Which of the following features are outdated or no longer necessary when buying a new home? | |
|---|---|
| Being near a good school | 18.8% |
| Low crime rate | 20.3% |
| Being near a supermarket | 23.6% |
| A conservatory | 33.8% |
| A garden shed for storage | 23.2% |
| A dining room | 20.2% |
| Magnolia painted walls | 41.2% |
| A bath/shower which requires a curtain | 35.6% |
| A bedroom on the ground floor | 28.8% |
| Off-road parking | 15.2% |
| Wooden kitchens | 27.5% |
| Carpet in the bathroom | 41.5% |
| Mosaic tiling in the kitchen | 28.5% |
| Fluorescent or white lighting | 21.9% |
| A garden water feature | 23.4% |
| Being close to work | 15.1% |
| An aga in the kitchen | 21.9% |
| None of the above | 4.2% |
| Would you be put off buying a property which needed to have lots of work done? | |
|---|---|
| Yes – definitely | 39.4% |
| Yes – maybe | 40.6% |
| No | 20.1% |
| Which of the following local amenities would you like to have near your home? | |
|---|---|
| Good schools / nurseries | 42.4% |
| Park/playground | 41.4% |
| A good pub | 35.0% |
| A greengrocer’s | 17.4% |
| A butcher | 18.2% |
| An artisan bakery | 16.6% |
| A nearby gym or fitness studio | 24.6% |
| A spa | 13.2% |
| An independent bookstore | 11.5% |
| A farmer’s market | 15.6% |
| A boutique hotel | 8.4% |
| A farm shop | 17.1% |
| A yoga studio | 8.8% |
| A wine shop | 11.1% |
| Good local restaurants | 36.1% |
| Local bars | 20.7% |
| Retail shops | 34.9% |
| Train station | 31.2% |
| Local Takeaway | 40.8% |
| Easy for commuting (for work) | 39.5% |
| Close by city | 25.2% |
| Being close to family/friends | 40.6% |
| Being within an “Instagrammable” or photogenic area | 12.5% |
| None of the above | 2.2% |
| Is it important to you to buy a home which feels stylish from the moment you move in? (if you already own property, imagine that you don’t for this question) | |
|---|---|
| Yes – definitely | 41.4% |
| Yes – maybe | 37.5% |
| No | 21.2% |
| How long does it take you to fall in love with a new property? | |
|---|---|
| I love it instantly, as soon as I see it from the outside | 21.1% |
| I like it as soon as I walk through the door | 41.0% |
| When I’m halfway through viewing it | 17.6% |
| After I’ve see everything | 16.5% |
| After I’ve moved in | 3.8% |
| Do you agree that we are a nation of house-proud Brits? | |
|---|---|
| Yes – completely agree | 39.5% |
| Yes – somewhat agree | 54.5% |
| No – completely disagree | 6.0% |
| However, do you think younger people are more house-proud than previous generations? | |
|---|---|
| Yes – definitely | 43.5% |
| Yes – maybe | 38.4% |
| No | 18.1% |
| Is it becoming more difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to buying a property? | |
|---|---|
| Yes – definitely | 50.7% |
| Yes – maybe | 39.2% |
| No | 10.1% |
| If yes, why is this? | |
|---|---|
| Property prices are continuing to rise | 48.6% |
| Good properties get snapped up quickly because the market is more competitive than ever | 45.5% |
| People’s expectations are higher these days | 35.5% |
| People want everything on their “must have” list to be ticked off | 33.5% |
| When it comes to the internal design of a house, I can be very particular | 23.5% |
| None of the above | 1.3% |
| Would you like to buy a home that can be personalised before you move in – i.e. one that’s been modified to suit your individual preferences? | |
|---|---|
| Yes – definitely | 44.1% |
| Yes – maybe | 44.2% |
| No | 11.6% |
| If yes, why is this ? | |
|---|---|
| I don’t have the time to update a house myself | 24.7% |
| It would make the decision to buy a property much easier | 45.2% |
| Hopefully it would end up being more affordable | 35.1% |
| I wouldn’t know where to start or who to book to make improvements | 26.0% |
| None of the above | 2.6% |
| Do you worry that you may never find your dream property? | |
|---|---|
| Yes – definitely | 34.9% |
| Yes – maybe | 34.2% |
| No | 30.9% |
The research of 1,500 UK homeowners aged 18 to 35 was conducted by Perspectus Global on behalf of St. Modwen Homes in October 2021.
