A poll of 2,000 adults has revealed the must-haves when it comes to buying a property – but there was one thing in particular people were after
A survey of 2,000 Brits has revealed the top features they look for in a modern home. This includes having plenty of natural light, being situated in a peaceful neighbourhood, and having an electric vehicle (EV) charger. Other must-haves included space for a home office, a downstairs toilet, and being close to shops, pubs, and restaurants in the area.
Half of those surveyed said eco-friendly features like an EV charger was ‘important’ when considering buying a new home. For 40 per cent of drivers surveyed the availability of nearby EV charging facilities would influence their decision when buying a house.
The study was commissioned by Vauxhall, who have partnered with property marketplace Zoopla, to introduce a search filter that allows users to find homes equipped with an EV charger or locate the nearest public charger to a property.
Over half agreed it would be beneficial if property marketplaces or apps could indicate where the closest EV chargers are located.
Steven Catlin, spokesperson for Vauxhall, which partnered with Zoopla as part of its ‘Electric Streets of Britain’ campaign, to improve on-street charging for households without driveways, said: “Moving house is one of the biggest decisions most of us make in our lifetime.
“And anyone who’s done it knows how important – and difficult – it is to find the perfect home.”
In a modern home, adults are keen on features such as energy-efficient glazing (35 per cent) and a low-maintenance garden (34 per cent).
While 33 per cent fancy a home with a mix of old and new features, 32 per cent prefer it to be entirely brand new, compared to 17 per cent who would opt for an old house.
Currently, around seven in 10 (68 per cent) have access to a driveway, with 58 per cent of drivers using a petrol car, 17 per cent diesel and 25 per cent a hybrid, electric or plug-in hybrid.
But, according to OnePoll.com data, 47 per cent would be more inclined to purchase an electric or hybrid vehicle if there was easy access to charging near their home.
Steve added: “As EVs become an even more common sight on our roads, more and more people will be prioritising charging access when thinking about where to live.
“We hope the features we have worked with Zoopla to introduce go some way to make decisions around buying and renting a new home that little bit easier for millions across the country.”