Central heating and energy efficiency top the nation’s list of top 20 ‘must-have’ home features, according to new research from Gocompare.com Home Insurance.
Today’s house hunters are more likely to be sold on the idea of properties with an efficient central heating system (73%), double glazing (72%) and secure doors and windows (71%), than characterful features. Only nine per cent of those surveyed said that if they were looking to buy a house, they would consider period features to be essential.
Energy efficiency was a key theme running through the survey – across all the regions. As well as an effective central heating system and double glazing, the top ten property essentials include a good energy efficiency rating (54%) and cavity wall insulation (48%).
When it comes to bathroom preferences, showers topped the list with 61% of respondents considering a shower a ‘must’ in a new home compared with just over half (53%) who deemed a bath to be an essential item. And just 29% said that an en-suite bathroom was a ‘must-have’ room, with people living in Wales (34%) and Scotland (34%) giving the highest priority to en-suite washing facilities.
Ben Wilson, from Gocompare.com home insurance, said:
“Our research suggests that today’s potential home buyers are putting practical concerns ahead of aesthetics by looking for properties which are cosy, energy efficient and secure, rather than full of character. With ever increasing gas and electricity prices, fuel and financial economy are a concern for many households, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that well-insulated homes and efficient central heating systems are key priorities for buyers”