As a vendor, you need to know what buyers search for when looking at new homes. While you know your property and there will be features you appreciate, at this stage, it doesn’t matter what you like or admire about your home. You must present your house in a way that appeals to buyers, and if you can align critical features of your home to the items buyers want in a home, you improve your chances of achieving success.
In the past year, Rightmove has offered a search facility on site, allowing users to narrow their search and focus on the most suitable homes. This has been a great boon for buyers, but it has also helped vendors learn about buyers intentions and what they desire in a house. Rightmove has issued the leading terms used by buyers, and if your home has some of these features, you have a fantastic opportunity to engage buyers.
Do you know what buyers search for when looking at homes?
The Top 5 search terms used by buyers on the Rightmove site are:
- Garage
- Annexe
- Acre
- Garden
- Detached
Of course, there is also the fact that everyone searching property on sites like Rightmove aren’t necessarily buying a home. A lot of people like to idle away the hours looking at houses and imagining their dream home. Therefore, it is more likely that people are going to use terms like garden, acre and detached because they are looking for something grander and apart from the standard range of houses on the market.
However, there is a realisation that space is essential for buyers, and if you can offer space to buyers at home, you should make this clear. The importance of keywords in your property listing cannot be overstated. Unless you make sure your property is seen by people who are likely to have an interest in the house, they won’t see it.
The way that property portals are used
Miles Shipside is the Property Expert for Rightmove, and he said; “Conventional wisdom points to the fact that garages are still valued by buyers and that’s because they have so much potential. They’re great for storage and can also be converted into living space. Regarding annexes, some families are seeing the opportunity of running one larger property rather than two. An annexe for a teenager has its benefits as it offers space, responsibility and independence as they have their quarters and keeps their noise at a distance from their parents. Of course, there is also the option of gaining a rental income by letting the annexe out, but I’d advise seeking all the appropriate guidance regarding tax and tenancies first.”
Any homeowner looking to make home improvements, and who can afford to do so, may wish to consider the factors buyers search on, and see if they can incorporate these elements into their home.
If you want to ensure your property is promoted most effectively, contact Williams of Petersfield. We’re delighted to say we’ve helped many local homeowners sell their home, and we look forward to assisting you as best we can.