With 2020 now known as “the year we stayed at home”, it’s unsurprising that so many people are keen to move. From feeling frustrated with the lack of space, to the desire for a change of scenery, there’s a huge array of reasons why people are searching for their next home.
As our lifestyles have changed, so have our priorities and “wishlists” for our dream home. In this blog post, Kirkwood’s Sales Manager, Shirley Craig shares the top wants and needs from prospective buyers across Aberdeen, Broughty Ferry and Dundee. Are yours the same?
1. Additional internal space
“It will come as no surprise that top of the new wishlist for prospective buyers is additional internal space - whether a home offering a dedicated office or study area, or an extra bedroom to utilise as a home office.
“This space is not only beneficial for adults working from home, but for those with children, a dedicated and peaceful area for study without distraction is also hugely desirable, and allows living spaces to return to their original function.”
2. More external space
“The need for external space features heavily on the list too, and this, in particular, applies to clients who own or rent apartments with limited or no outside space. Each of our homes enjoy enclosed rear gardens, with the boundaries fenced, offering a secure area for pets, children or those just wanting to take a break from inside.
“As we start to emerge from winter, a place to enjoy the longer days and better weather is extremely beneficial to health and mental wellbeing.”
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3. Walking routes
“The desire to own a home enjoying coastal or countryside walks nearby is now a common requirement. Close proximity from client’s homes to their place of work is not as important a factor as it may have been in previous times, therefore people are now able to look further afield for their next property - especially if they are to remain working from home in the future.
“As we build homes in desirable locations, coast or countryside walks to enjoy are literally a stone’s throw away from all our developments.
4. Proximity to family
“Being estranged from family members has thrown up many challenges over the past year, and this is becoming an increasingly important consideration for prospective buyers moving forward.
“With the strain of lockdown and travel restrictions weighing heavily, many of our clients are making the move to be closer to parents or children, with some seeking help with childcare and others simply wishing to spend more time with their nearest and dearest.”
5. New build
“The demand for a brand new home is certainly on the rise, as potential buyers look for a fresh new property ready to move into.
“Our new homes come fully equipped with high spec modern kitchens and appliances, luxury bathrooms and en-suites, contemporary doors and finishings, and so much more. They can be personalised to our clients’ taste, providing you with a blank canvas to create your perfect home. This is very desirable at the moment, especially for those who are tired of their current property - and want a luxury, modern home as opposed to a house that requires renovation or internal cosmetic work.
“New build homes are also incredibly energy efficient and offer the advantage of reduced energy bills - currently an increased monthly cost we have all had to absorb as we work from home.
“We also have an aftercare package in place for all our clients to avail of for added security and peace of mind. And clearly, our unrivalled build quality and high internal specification has allowed purchasers to be confident in their decision to move to a Kirkwood home.”
To discover more benefits of buying new, click here to read our blog post: “Why buy new? 10 benefits of buying a newbuild home”.
