Most ‘desirable’ home features buyers are looking for which add ‘real value’

Recent research from the Gradual Homeownership provider, Wayhome, surveyed 2,500 first-time buyers in the UK to find out which features were most important to them.

This included when it came to the property itself, its outdoor space and the requirements of modern day life. Wayhome then compiled a top 10 across all areas of the home, before sharing which add the most value.

A modern kitchen topped the list as the most important feature for first-time buyers, which is no surprise considering it is often the most important room in a home.

According to the experts, once taking costs into account, a modern kitchen can add around £5,000 to a home’s value, based on the current average of a UK home, which is £285,009.

The second “most desirable” feature is natural light which can help a room look larger and brighter as well as boost people’s energy.

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Real grass in an outdoor space came third, followed by a patio outdoor space in fourth place.

According to the experts, having a nice patio outdoor space could add as much as £7,830 to a property’s value, based on the current house price in the UK.

An energy efficient property also made the top five, with other desirable features including a strong WiFi connection, a garage space, a utility room, a home office and bi-folding doors.

The experts said: “The best project you can undertake to entice first-time buyers while adding real value is a home office space. 

“It is estimated to add £22,801 in value in the current market, while costing just £5,000 to implement, resulting in £17,801 in actual value added.”

At an average of £13,750, a garage can also be an expensive addition to your home. However, it is estimated to boost the value of your property by £28,501, which equates to a real term increase of £14,751 once costs are accounted for.

A strong WiFi connection is one feature which can’t necessarily be bought and so a home with a fast connection is thought to sell for 4.4 percent more as a result.

This is a huge £12,540 in the current market. However, if your home suffers from sluggish internet speeds, you can purchase a WiFi booster to help address the issue.

These can be purchased for as little as £40 but a top of the range booster can cost as much as £300, which is a worthwhile investment, according to the pros.

Co-founder and CEO of Wayhome, Nigel Purves, commented: “First-time buyers account for a significant chunk of the market and attracting one is a surefire way to improve the speed and certainty of your sale as they come with no chain, which also helps strengthen your own position in the market.

“So, it’s well worth considering what improvements you can make in order to attract a first-time buyer, particularly in current market conditions where buyer demand has started to dwindle.

“Of course, the other consideration to make is the actual added value any home improvement will bring and this centres largely around the cost it requires to implement.

“It’s also important to consider how needs have changed in recent years and which aspects of pandemic life remain today, as well as which aspects are no longer influential.

“For example, many of us have continued to work from home on a more regular basis and so the requirement for the space and infrastructure to do so remains important.

“In this respect, the addition of a home office space and improving your WiFi connection are some of the safest bets to help boost the value of your home.”