Only 1% of Britons rate price as the most important consideration when buying a new property, according to Alliance & Leicester’s quarterly movingimproving index.
It asked 4,000 people what the most important consideration was when buying a new home. A quarter say room size is most important, rising to 35% for those in their 30s. Only 8% thought that location was the most important consideration. This was more important for men (9% as opposed to 6%) and for those in their 50s (10%).
The importance of central heating increases the further north borrowers live, with the Scots most concerned. 16% of Scots said it was the most important factor, compared with 6% in the South East and 7% in the South West.
Just 9% of people rated the garden as the most important aspect and only 1% rated a conservatory as most important when buying a new home.
Paul Cooper, head of mortgages at Alliance & Leicester, said: ‘These findings show when people are choosing a property they want to know what it will be like as a home ‘ not what it is worth.
‘The figures also show traditional improvements people make to stimulate a sale, such as conservatories and double-glazing, may not have the desired impact on perspective buyers and could end up being a waste of money.’
