Community Matters In Local Housing Market

It is not an exaggeration to say COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the housing market, and will likely continue to affect the market for years to come. A significant issue to consider is what buyers are looking for; because this has changed because of the pandemic.

While a garden space and larger property are high on the list of demands for buyers, these have always been integral features for buyers. However, there are some issues which are a priority, which wasn’t the case in the past.

At Harpers Estates, we have worked closely with buyers and vendors, and we see how the market is evolving at a local level. We also stay in touch with national surveys and reports. This means we are ideally placed to help you make an informed decision on what buyers want from vendors and property.

If you plan on selling your home in or around Wendover, we can help. One of the most important features is to arrange a property valuation, and we can do this for you. If you are keen to arrange a property valuation with a local housing market specialist, contact Harpers Estates today, and we will help you.

National survey reveals buyers’ thoughts

The study undertaken by Redrow, a leading house-builder in the UK revealed a top ten of features buyers are looking for when they purchase a new home. The top ten is as follows:

·         A park or village green with open spaces cited by 35% of respondents

·         Access to smaller shops such as grocers, baker and a Post office said by 33%

·         Having a Doctor’s Surgery nearby was listed by 32% of respondents

·         31% of respondents requested bus and train routes nearby

·         The importance of a large supermarket close-by was cited by 28% of respondents

·         17% of people who answered stated they wanted local cafes and restaurants

·         A pharmacy was listed by 15% of respondents

·         Good schools was only listed by 14% of respondents

·         Pubs and bars were named by 14% of respondents

·         Only 11% of respondents cited the importance of a hospital close-by

James Holmear is the Group Sales Director at Redrow, and he said; “Lockdown has changed our lives dramatically. More time spent in the home has made us reconsider how we use the space that we have, and how our homes can adapt to a more permanent change in the future. Even as more offices re-open, many people will opt to work at home, and people are planning to replace public transport with greener modes of community when they do commute.”

James continued by saying; “This change has translated to huge shifts in buyer preferences on the ground. Now, we are experiencing more customers adapt their search to homes with extra space to work, and more people are looking for proximity to green space and local shops, over good schools, and cafes and restaurants.”

We know this is a challenging time, and for many households, the thought of buying or selling property is far from their mind. However, we also know many people are keen to keep themselves entertained, and some people may have property market issues. If we can be of any use to you, please contact Harpers Estates, and we will be more than happy to assist you.