What house features do homebuyers look for? How to boost house price by £20k

Sellers who highlight certain features of their home at the right time of year could add tens of thousands of pounds to their closing prices, according to new research.

House prices can fluctuate significantly at different times of the year based on the features it has, data from UK estate agents found.

A south-facing garden could mean a house sells for £5,832 more in summer, for example. Meanwhile a wood-burning fireplace might add £4,568 to your house price in the winter.

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Not only can sellers make tens of thousands more by working out if it is a good time to sell a house – buyers might find it is a good time to buy a house and save a sizable amount by purchasing a home with certain house features ‘out of season’, according to the study by property website Zoopla.

More than 100 UK estate agents were asked how much they would market homes with certain house features for in the summer months (May-August) versus other times of the year.

The experts based their valuations on a three-bedroom property, which in the UK currently has a median asking price of £324,000, according to Zoopla data, though this depends on which house price index you use.

Daniel Copley, consumer expert at Zoopla, said: “The research clearly demonstrates homebuyers are swayed by the season, and in some cases, certain features can help sellers achieve more for their home.

“While it is human nature to be drawn to features like a stunning garden, or cool pool in summer, or underfloor heating during winter, homebuyers should bear in mind that they will also face ongoing running costs for these items, especially with regards to energy usage. Buyers should therefore factor this into their budget.”

We look at the cost to move house in a separate article.

What house features are most popular among buyers?

Swimming pools and hot tubs can make a big difference to your sale price in the summer. Those lucky enough to have a pool could expect to achieve an additional £5,897 if selling in the warmer months (an extra 1.82% based on the average price of a three-bed home in the UK), while a hot tub would add about £2,819 (0.87%).

If you market your home in the summer, having a south facing or sunny garden adds 1.8% to its value on average. This works out at an extra £5,832. Even a balcony adds £4,018 (1.24%) to a home’s value if sold in summer compared to other seasons.

Air conditioning is also in high demand in terms of house features. Estate agents would expect a home which has this to achieve £4,925 more if sold in summer (1.52%).

Taken together, a property with a range of sought-after outdoor house features like a nice garden, swimming pool, outdoor entertainment space and air conditioning would be worth around £22,000 more if sold during the summer months.

Many warming features also add value in winter. A home with underfloor heating, for example, would command an additional £3,985 (1.23%) in the winter and good energy efficiency measures add £3,402 (1.05%).

Likewise a cosy, traditional, wood-burning fireplace adds £4,568 if sold in winter (1.41%). And an Aga-style range cooker on average adds £3,337 or 1.03 per cent.

Why do certain house features make house prices rise?

Homebuyers’ preferences are driving these higher prices – they are simply willing to pay more if certain house features are ‘in season’ when they view the property, whatever time of year that happens to be.

Nearly half (48%) of current homeowners would be prepared to pay more for a swimming pool if they were buying a home in the summer months, according to separate findings from a survey of 1,000 owners.

Around the same proportion (49%) would be persuaded to part with more cash for a home with a nice garden and as many would also be prepared to pay extra for a house with air conditioning (49%).

Likewise in winter, 38% say they would be prepared to pay more for a home with a traditional fireplace, 41% would pay more for a home with good energy efficiency and 26% would pay more for an Aga-style range cooker.

The pull is stronger in the summer – around two thirds of home-buyers who purchased their own home during spring or summer (65%) say they feel that in hindsight, they were particularly drawn to certain features of the home.

This compares to around half (47%) of those who purchase a home during winter who said certain wintry features played a factor.

Most (85%) of those drawn to certain features due to the time of the year feel they paid more for the home as a result, for example because the home was in more demand.

As such, nearly half of all homebuyers (47%) think they paid more due to the time of year they purchased their home, to the tune of an extra £27,000 on average.

However, many hope to reap the rewards in the future, with 71% of all homebuyers believing their home would be more desirable if they listed it at the right time of the year.

Claire Carter, country house associate director at estate agent John D Wood & Co said: “It’s not necessarily the case that features add value, but they become more emotionally compelling – a roaring fire on a cold winter’s day or a glorious garden in summer can absolutely tip a buyer’s decision.”

The time of year matters hugely for presentation, she added. “For example, a house photographed in January looks completely different by May. When selling in winter, I always encourage my clients to light the fire and turn on the underfloor heating because nobody wants to feel chilly on a viewing. During summer, it is all about showing the house in its element with blooming gardens, blue skies, and sun-dappled terraces.”