When polling house hunters for what they want from their next home purchase, their wish list showcases many smaller considerations than at any point previously, and they are certain to add brownie points to those looking at how to sell a house if they check off the right appealing aspects.

Those looking to buy property in Stockport want a good, reliable broadband signal over higher-rated schools, and prefer off-road parking over a home garage. Instead of period features, today’s house hunters want a living room big enough for their flat-screen TV.

Eco-Friendly

Warmth and energy efficiency are some of today’s key priorities in looking for a new property, thanks in part to the British climate and rising energy prices. Central heating and double glazing top the list of what is considered a must-have, with a good energy efficiency rating and cavity wall insulation also occupying the highest-rated features.

As mentioned earlier, homebuyers rank a good, reliable broadband coverage and mobile phone signal much higher than the need for a close high-ranking school facility or period features, which have both dropped considerably over the years as an essential towards a purchase.

Appealing Features

The following features are the ones that rank high with today’s homebuying crowd. The space race opened up more people wanting a garden space, whilst working from home has pushed for people wanting secure doors and windows and solid signals for phone and internet coverage.

Friendly neighbours, local shops and amenities are consistently a high selling point, as well as a bathtub, at least two bathrooms (or en-suite bathroom) and a dining room area (although a kitchen/living room combination is also gaining a lot of attention from homebuyers.

Fixtures such as cavity wall insulation, luxury vinyl flooring and home solar panel systems also rank highly among providing a long-term home provision, with homes already having an eco-conscious design – such as smart meters and smart kitchens – being among the hottest attractions to the market for sales.

Room for Future

Of course, the big appeal for homebuyers is the feeling that their families will grow shortly, whether for a first child or grandchildren to come and visit.

This has resulted in homebuyers actively searching for homes with everything they could require in space and requirements. In the case of Stockport, the perfect mixture of both city and rural life means that it is a prime area for house hunters from across the UK.

For more information on buying property advice in the Stockport area, contact the team at Joules estate agents Stockport today.

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Happy New Year to our clients and readers, but unfortunately we need to start the year with something that is currently at an all-time high in the area for homeowners. The end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 has seen a bombardment of scammers targeting homeowners in the Northwest with fraudulent offers on green energy solutions or insulation, claiming that they will boost property value for those looking at how to sell a house in the new year and cashing in on the cost-of-living crisis.

Targeted

The number of scams has reached epidemic proportions and it will increase even more throughout 2023 as fraudsters become even more sophisticated when targeting victims.

Homeowners are experiencing more cons linked to offers of green energy solutions and insulation using creative marketing that implies it is with government backing – including scrappage schemes for boilers and grants available. Most of these take the form of discounts on already inflated prices.

Treat with Suspicion

Homeowners are also seeing an increase in unsolicited texts and emails that need to be treated with suspicion, as scammers try to rope in those looking to save money in spiralling energy costs. Trading standards have passed warning that households being offered fake green home improvements have doubled during the Winter, with fraudsters targeting homeowners looking to make their home’s property value increase by becoming green.

Homeowners have also been targeted with scam offers of bogus grants for solar panels, loft insulation, spray foam, double and triple glazing and new boilers. Homeowners have been feeling the pressure to incorporate green improvements to get higher interest and above asking price from those wanting to buy property in Stockport.

With the government’s drive to phase out gas boilers and install 600,000 heat pumps by 2028, the shortage of accredited engineers to install them has opened up a large opportunity for fraudsters to capitalise on the demand from homeowners during a cost-of-living crisis.

As it stands, a third of homeowners in the UK have been targeted so far by home improvement criminals. This makes it very important that you consult with your estate agent Stockport on any ‘special offers’ or grants that you are being offered to be sure of validity and to protect your home.

Outlook for the Future

Whilst it has been a rough year for the housing market and a lot of people want to secure a house before the new year, the property market is always cyclical, able to dip and rise in succession. The first rule of real estate has always been that houses always go up in value and opportunity will always come around.

The team at Joules estate agents ask our clients and readers to be aware of any offer coming through phone calls and email and to contact us should they have any concerns about them.

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