Gardens are the top priority for house movers looking for the ideal home, a survey by finder.com has revealed.
Influenced by the recent lockdown, respondents to the study revealed their number one priority in a new home was to have decent outside space.
But the size of the property itself was also important – with this coming in at number two on their wish list.
Meanwhile, parking emerged as the third most important factor when looking for a home.
Matthew Boyle, mortgage expert at finder.com said: “Since lockdown outdoor space has become a bigger priority for many Brits.
“This has meant that many of those who live in flats or in cities are looking to move into properties with better outdoor provisions.
“Some have even relocated to the countryside where there is more space and these results show this. This trend will likely continue especially due to concerns around a second wave.”
Most sought after features (source: finder.com)
| Ranking | Reason | Percentage |
| 1 | If it has outside space/ the size of the outdoor space | 33% |
| 2 | The size of the property | 28% |
| 3 | Parking | 24% |
| 4 | The property being in a nice area | 22% |
| 5 | Good transport links | 21% |
| 6 | Being closer to family/ friends | 17% |
| 7 | Being close to amenities | 16% |
| 8 | Situated in a area with a low crime rate | 14% |
| 9 | The cost of running and maintaining the property | 14% |
| 10 | How the house looks | 12% |
Bottom of the list
The least important factors for people looking to buy a home were how the local housing market was performing, and the cost of insuring the property, said Finder.com.
Its survey showed only 2% of respondents considered these options one of their top three priorities.
Only 4% of respondents said that being close to childcare was important to them making this the third least popular consideration.
