Trends and preferences change all the time and that is no different when it comes to houses. The pandemic changed what a lot of people are looking for in a new home, but other things, like a push to more sustainable homes have also come to the forefront. In this article we will take a look at some of the features that are becoming increasingly important to those buying a property and which are on the decline.
Garden Offices
With the increase in home working, having an office at home has become increasingly popular. Not everyone has space inside to create and office, but a garden office is a great alternative and this has been seen in property listings where a garden office is becoming more and more common. The benefit of a garden office is that it can be fully kitted out with heating, aircon, electric, insulation and even wifi but it does not take up any space in the home.
Bi-fold doors
This is really an extension of the wanting more space and joining the inside of the home to the outside. With the lockdowns over the last few years, people have wanted more and more to enjoy open space. Bi-fold doors do just that. Opening up an entire room into the outside, getting fresh air and creating a seamless transition between inside and out.
Orangeries and Summer houses
Now an orangery might seem a little strange as a sought after feature but bear in mind that an orangery is very similar to a conservatory but made from brick, with a flat roof and slightly less glass. These make a great space for a gym, an office, a playroom or even a dining room. The same really goes for summer houses. People want to feel connected to the outside, but also want to be able to use that outside space flexibly. Summer houses and Orangeries provide that flexibility.
Open Plan
Gone are the days of separate living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms. The modern trend is for more open plan properties. Open plan gives a feeling of much more space and also allows people to be much more sociable. Open plan kitchen/diners are great as the guests can be seated comfortably at the table, while the host cooks and is also able to socialise.
The Losers
So what is losing out these days as far as features that buyers are looking for:
- On the back of the open plan requirements, a separate dining room is no longer as important
- Greenhouses and conservatories are also no longer as popular. Mainly because people want a more flexible use of outside space but also need something more practical than a conservatory which can struggle with either being too hot or too cold for use as an office for example
- Fitted wardrobes also appear to be on the decline and this could, again, be due to the need for flexibility. Fitted wardrobes, by nature are not easy to move around and tend to create a fixed layout which doesn’t always work.
Buying a home is a very personal thing and trends aside, everyone has different needs, at Belvoir we have over 170 offices nationwide, each one run by local property experts. Whatever you are looking for, one of our experts is at hand to help you find your perfect new home, so why not pop in to see us and see how we can help you?
