Family comes first

It’s one year on from when we all first went into lockdown and as restrictions begin to ease, it appears that the pandemic has left a lasting impression when it comes to home buying choices. Research commissioned by Purplebricks, the UK’s tech-led estate agent, reveals that over half (53 per cent) of homebuyers in London believe living closer to their family is now more important than being closer to work. This may lead more potential home buyers to search for properties closer to where they grew up. They might use terms to search for houses in their old local areas such as houses to rent burton on trent, or houses for sale in West Sussex as examples. This desire to be closer to family members overwork is possibly indicative of a changing housing market after the effects of the pandemic. Below some of the key things London buyers are looking for will be discussed.

Green spaces reprioritized

Perhaps due to the considerable time many have spent confined indoors heeding government social distancing advice, proximity to green open spaces is now a ‘must’. Having a garden is essential for 47 per cent of Londoners. And having a park or countryside nearby has been brought to the top of many London home buyers’ wish lists, with 35 per cent stating green space access is key when considering their next property purchase.

Size is key
Access to good size rooms now appears to be a key factor when it comes to choosing a new home. A further 37 per cent say the main turn off when viewing a property was if areas of the home looked dark and small.

Homes with a usable home office space are also proving to be a popular choice, with a quarter of London home buyers stating an office would help swing their decision.

Education is also important for Londoners, with a fifth of home buyers wanting to ensure a property is within the catchment area of a good school before they make a decision to book a viewing.

Good transport links to the city

While homebuyers may be looking for access to more green space, those in London still want to be close to good transport links so they can get across and out of the city easily when needed. Almost half (44.3 per cent) cited that being close to good transport links was an important factor for them.

James Terry, Divisional Sales Director at Purplebricks, said, “During the pandemic many people have been unwillingly separated from their families, and so we are now observing an influx of buyers wanting to move nearer to loved ones. Lockdown has heralded a new era of ease and simplicity in virtual house hunting and homeowners are rapidly adopting this new way of buying and selling homes.

He continued, “The market around the capital has remained exceptionally busy, and we are seeing an increase in people looking to move a little further out of the city, as commuting is no longer such a priority. Conducting virtual viewings is a quick way to see if a property is right for the buyer’s needs, and it enables us to give far more people access to properties than ever before. Buyers can carry out their first viewings virtually and draw up a shortlist for when they are able to physically visit.”

“Open space has also been a much needed tonic for people during lockdown and buyers in London have decided that they want to live closer to easily accessible green spaces. We are seeing a rise in potential buyers looking for homes in areas including Chigwell, Twickenham and Bromley that have great access to open space yet are still accessible to Central London and have their own thriving local communities.”

Technology gets us moving quicker

The pandemic has highlighted how technology can have an impact on the homebuying process. With virtual viewings increasing and, in some cases, being the only viewing method for some buyers, decisions are being made faster.

Londoners have been using technology more as 87 per cent significantly increased their use of technology during lockdown and a whopping 96 per cent are willing to fully embrace tech in their search for a new home in the future.

A huge 84 per cent of homebuyers in London believe technology makes house buying quicker compared to traditional methods such as looking at property pages, speaking to estate agents on the high street.

“With virtual viewings, buyers can view properties with the click of a button, from the comfort of their sofa and make initial decisions much faster on which properties to shortlist. It’s a busy time across our region and buyers need to move fast,” added James.