This was closely followed by a downstairs cloakroom, location, parking and then the number of bedrooms, according to a survey by residential property companies Move with Us.
The survey was conducted among independent estate agents from the Move with Us Partner Network and found that nearly 40% of estate agents noted that the size of a property’s garden was the first thing to be forfeited when buyers were purchasing a new home.
A downstairs toilet was next on the list with 33.5% of agents highlighting that potential home owners are willing to sacrifice this in order to secure the right property. Location came in third at 15.4%, followed by the availability of parking at 9.3% and the number of bedrooms at 2.7%.
The survey also found that the number of property viewings that home buyers completed before buying their new home has also increased. The average number of properties a buyer has typically viewed before buying in the last six months is between 11 and 15.
‘It is likely that the rise in the number of viewings that people are undertaking has grown as a result of the average move cycle increasing to every 20 years or so. People are moving less often now so they aren’t as willing to compromise and are taking more time to find the right property. We may see this change in 2013 if more buyers return to the market and lending criteria becomes more relaxed,’ said Robin King, director at Move with Us.
‘In the meantime estate agents should help manage the expectations of their customers so they understand what they can afford in their chosen area. The perfect home rarely exists so it is important to help them to prioritise their must haves and their maybes. Ultimately, having a set plan and clear criteria can save both the estate agent and the customer time and money in the long run,’ he added.