Lockdown 2 – What House Buyers Think

No matter the circumstances, buyers and vendors should always look to make an informed decision in the housing market. However, in current circumstances, people should try to take on as much valid information as possible.

At Atkinson Residential, we are pleased to serve the Enfield community. We know what local buyers and vendors think and feel, and we stay in touch with the latest national studies and research. If you are looking for guidance in an extremely challenging time, we are here to help you.

Are attitudes to property changing?

A study conducted by Barratt Homes and GoodMore Global Ltd looks at people’s attitudes to home and work during the pandemic.

There is no denying Covid-19 is the most pressing issue right now, but it appears as though it hasn’t been an overtly significant factor in people’s decisions. The study found only 12% of respondents are keen to move further from their current place of work. 19% of respondents said if they are likely to move, it will be to move closer to family members.

33% of respondents said they expect to work from home more often.

17% of respondents said they expect to move home in the next two years. From this group, 36% want to live closer to their family and 27% want to move further from their place of work.

From the group who want to move in the next two years, 35% live in London and the South-East of England. The group who is most likely to move in this time is the group aged between 25 and 39, with 49% of respondents in this group saying they expect to move in the next two years.

Remote working is a growing issue for buyers to consider

Zoopla have also been speaking with buyers and vendors regarding the current state of the property market. The property portal has found that many people are facing up to remote working being a permanent part of their life as we move forward.

Many households are citing home-working as a reason to move home, but it is also an influencing factor to carry out home improvement work.

Tom Parker, consumer spokesperson at Zoopla, said: “Having a home fit for the changes in our lifestyle has never been so important, particularly as many of us work from home. For those of us not considering moving home, there’s always scope to improve your current living space, be this painting a room to add a different feel, or zoning a space to create a space for home working.”

The three key takeaways offered by Zoopla in their study are as follows:

• Covid-19 and lockdown are changing what Britons value about their homes.

• One in five are still not happy with their working set up, with only 23% of people having a study or home office.

• Nearly three out of 10 people said their views on open plan layouts had changed with 11% saying they did not think they were practical in the new normal.

If you are looking for guidance or assistance in the Enfield property market, we can help. At Atkinson Residential, we are estate, land and letting agent specialists, and we look forward to assisting you as best we can. If you would like to arrange a property valuation, please call us on 020 8366 0261, while you can contact us on 020 8342 1234 for all letting enquiries.