The majority of homemovers are looking for more space in their homes. But why do Brits need more space and what are the top property features that would convince them to move?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people to spend more time in their homes than ever before. This has led to a race for space as more homebuyers and tenants alike look for properties that better suit their changed lifestyles.
ConservatoryLand conducted a survey of 2,000 Brits to discover why more space is needed in homes. The bespoke conservatory specialists also found out how much homemovers would be willing to spend to increase their space and what factors would influence them to move to a larger property.
A whopping 50% of Brits surveyed stated they would move to a larger home if given the opportunity. On average, they would be willing to spend £10,000 to increase the size of their property.
On the other hand, less than 30% said they wouldn’t move to a bigger property, while even 10% stated they would downsize if given the chance. This shows that not everyone is looking for a larger property.
Why Brits need more space
This new survey revealed that limited storage was the top reason why Brits need more space in their homes with 20% of consumers picking this as their main reason. Clutter could be a problem especially for those who are continuing to work from home.
Lack of garden space came in second with 17% of respondents choosing it as the top reason they need more space. For many, access to garden or outdoor space became more important during the successive lockdowns of the past 18 months.
Additionally, a common theme of wanting more space comes in the form of hosting guests. Not having a spare room for guests came in third and hosting family and friends in fourth.
And unsurprisingly, a bigger office for working from home came in fifth. The portion of people working from home more than doubled in 2020, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. And remote working, particularly hybrid working with a mix of working from home and time in the office, could remain in place for many professionals.
Stand-out features that would convince Brits to move
Interestingly, some of even the smallest of property features can persuade homemovers to move house. In the survey, ConservatoryLand asked what the most stand-out feature would be if they could be convinced to move.
An en-suite bathroom was the most popular reason for being persuaded to move with more than 19% of the vote. A spare bedroom for guests was second with 17%. As a year of lockdowns showed how fortunate residents are for having a garden, conservatories and garden space also ranked highly in the survey results, coming in third and fourth.
A garage, kitchen island, driveway and office are the next top features that would convince Brits to move. And then the more luxury features, including a swimming pool and home gym, rounded out the top 10.
Buying and rental trends have been changing since the wake of COVID-19. This survey further shows how the pandemic has impacted homemovers and what they are currently looking for in their properties.
