Fresh research from GoCompare Home Insurance has revealed that the importance of ‘location, location, location’ for property hunters is on the decline.
Instead, the survey indicates that when choosing a property, the focus is now moving to a good broadband connection.
Changing Values
The report uncovered that the most desirable features for homebuyers are a good neighbourhood, with low crime rates and good access to shops, schools and GP.
In addition, the survey discovered would-be homebuyers are increasingly valuing superfast broadband, a good mobile-phone signal and satellite TV.
The top-ten most desirable home location and facilities features were found to be:
| Most desirable home location/facilities | % | |
| 1 | A good area or neighbourhood | 66 |
| 2 | An area with a low crime rate | 59 |
| 3 | Good proximity to local shops | 51 |
| 4 | Near a good GP or dentist surgery | 44 |
| 5 | A good, reliable broadband connection sufficiently strong to stream TV and films | 43 |
| 6 | Reliable and clear mobile phone signal | 42 |
| 7 | Superfast broadband | 39 |
| 8 | A land-line telephone | 33 |
| 9 | Bus, tram or underground stop nearby | 31 |
| 10 | Satellite TV | 27 |
Priorities of homebuyers are changing
Changing Factor
Ben Wilson, from GoCompare Home Insurance, noted: ‘Location will always be a key factor for homebuyers. After all, while you can improve a property – you can’t move it. But it is too simple these days to say that it is the only consideration. Homeowners also expect to be connected in a way that wasn’t envisaged even 10 years ago. They will want to know about the transport infrastructure and communications as much as the schools, shops and amenities.’[1]
[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/property/connection-is-the-new-location.html