Technology Drives Modern Buyer Property Preferences

Technology is driving change in consumer behaviour when buying property with internet quality superseding structural considerations like the quality of insulation and the condition of floors and walls.

According to a market research survey of over 2,000 homeowners and privately rented tenants, conducted by Hyperoptic, has compiled a detailed list of the things a modern homeowner covets when looking for a new home.

Whilst traditional deal breakers like the number of bedrooms, size of the property’s garden and parking considerations still remain pertinent concerns to prospective buyers, the list also throws up a number of first world necessities as well.

10% of the list concerns internet imperatives with broadband speed, Wi-Fi and fast internet connection must haves for 545 of the modern property buyers.

Spacious living room accommodation is now considered more important than buying a home with a modern kitchen and local shops is marginally more sought after than the nearest school.

Although a consideration of where the sun hits the garden remains important along with the size of bedrooms and the state of the décor, modern buyers also look for the number of toilets, the property’s energy efficiency, the amount of available storage space and whether the bedrooms come with an en-suite.

Charles Davies, managing director of Hyperoptic, said: “The results show an interesting change in home movers’ preferences in recent years. People rely on the internet so much nowadays for everything from entertainment, to working and keeping in touch with others.

“The rise in flexible working and the number of people working from home is likely to have had an influence on homeowners needs, such as speedy broadband. It’s interesting to see how WiFi is in the same list of priorities as parking and garden sizes.”

How have buyer preferences changed over the years? Will the importance of internet quality increase further in the future?