Rightmove plc

09/15/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/15/2021 02:51

The nation’s dream home is revealed…

We recently asked what your dream home would look like, where it would be, and how many rooms it would have - and thousands of you answered!

The results of our survey are now in, and they show that we're a pretty practical nation when it comes to the type of property we dream of living in. Forget the fanciful notions of walk-in wardrobes, bespoke at-home gyms or luxurious swimming pools, the convenience of a utility room and a home office are far more important to most people.

In fact, we can reveal that the nation's dream home is a four-bedroom detached property in a coastal village, with two living rooms, two bathrooms, a garden, garage, utility room and an office.

Space, practicality and a coastal breeze, please

The study paints a fascinating picture of what a 'dream home' really means to people, says our property expert Tim Bannister.

'Usually you might think a dream home is a mansion with swimming pools and other luxuries, but the British sense of thinking practically comes through very clearly with garages, utility rooms and home offices the order of the day.

'Perhaps it's the thought that if you have a dream home you want to make sure you're going to make use of everything. Rather than choosing an outdoor swimming pool only to realise you can only use it a few weeks of the year, you think of a utility room that you know you'll be using every day,' he says.

Start searching for your dream home here

The detached dream

One of the big impacts on the housing market during the pandemic has been the jump in the number of people buying a detached home with a garden. In fact, we've seen a record number of people searching for homes with gardens on Rightmove this year.

A home set among a small, friendly community is sought after, living in a detached property, so as not to have the neighbours too close. A cottage comes in second, fitting with the idyll of a cosy cottage by the sea.

'Earlier this year detached homes hit over half a million pounds nationally for the first time, aided by an increase demand for more space,' says Tim Bannister.

'This means that many people looking to move right now are likely to be looking for a smaller home, but some will have their mind set on how they could eventually achieve the four-bedroom detached house with a garden. Others will be thinking about what living the coastal life in a cottage could be like, and for some that will mean their daily search on Rightmove turns into picking up the keys to their new life a few months down the line.'

Two living rooms is the most popular request for number of living rooms, perhaps to have one for guests and one for everyday use. A garage and garden are both high priority, although these days a garage may be used for extra storage rather than actually parking the car inside.

The rise of working from home comes through especially in the younger age groups, with those aged 18-34 saying a home office is their number one priority for an extra room. The conservatory doesn't start to appear as a must-have until we reach the 65+ age group, who would also choose a bungalow over a large house.

The youngest age group of 18-24 would really like a dining room, likely to have more room to entertain friends. A third bathroom, maybe for growing families, emerges in the 25-44 age group.

Additional rooms ranked
1. Garage
2. Utility room
3. Home office
4. Dining room
5. Walk-in wardrobe
6. Conservatory
7. Swimming pool
8. A gym / spa
9. Games room
10. Library

Escape to the coast

It has been well documented over the past year that more people than usual have been considering a move to a coastal location, and to smaller towns and villages, although there are now signs that city living is returning.

When exploring the life that could be in a dream house, the vast majority say they would like to live in a village by the coast, and first-time buyers are the only group who would rather live in a town.

Tesco triumphs over Waitrose

The motto that 'every little helps' is certainly true for Tesco today, as the chain beats Waitrose by a mere one percent, when people were asked which supermarket they would most want to have nearby.

Looking at all properties on Rightmove, Tesco is the supermarket that is mentioned most by estate agents in listings, followed by Waitrose.

Waitrose does perform exceptionally well when you consider how many more stores Tesco has around Great Britain. However, there are clear regional favourites, with the South favouring Waitrose and Sainsbury's winning in Yorkshire & the Humber.

Just popping down the local…

A local pub on the doorstep is the top choice, followed by a local corner shop, coffee shop and a local market. A local market wins as the number one priority in London to have locally, perhaps because there are plenty of pubs to choose from across the city.

Bakeries and restaurants come next on the list, and local greengrocers and butchers are a more popular choice than takeaway places, as many people know they can rely on delivery drivers to bring it straight to their door.

This survey was conducted by Rightmove between 19-23 August. There were 2,019 respondents.

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