While a property’s location is one of the most important features that buyers (and renters) consider, it’s worth noting that exploring the merits of the street and the wider neighbourhood go a lot further than a popular postcode.
For buyers searching for their next move in an unfamiliar place or sellers about to market a property, being well-informed about the finer details of the locality might come down to securing a sale quickly or losing out. In addition to knowing whether a house is situated in a catchment area for great schools or has a well-kept street, today’s house hunters remain interested in the closest supermarkets (once dubbed ‘The Waitrose Effect’), what’s on in the community and whether there are natural beauty spots nearby. These factors go beyond the word ‘location’ and can mean as much as the overall feel of a place.
Our latest blog explores the benefits in promoting the wider appeal of your home’s address to attract interest from buyers, to increase the number of potential viewings and to possibly increase your home's worth.
Make first impressions count
If you have decided to put your home on the market, its presentation can make all the difference when it comes to creating that critical first impression. Whether a prospective buyer has walked past or looked online, how a house looks is so important and reports state that 68% of buyers value kerb appeal more than other features. Once they have fallen for the property’s location, people might make their minds up about whether they like a property in minutes. You want to ensure that interested parties can imagine living there so it’s a good time to make the most of your property’s external aesthetics.
To maximise its kerb appeal try to focus on the immediate outside area, including your driveway, front door, roof, paintwork, fences, hedges, and gardens to make sure they are all presentable, tidy and well maintained. You can help by mowing the lawn before any photos are taken, tidy away bins and even ensure that your street’s pavement has been weeded and there’s no rubbish lying around.
Portray a winning location
Once your home has been valued and marketed, its location will stand out with exceptional photos, a virtual tour and videos. In a digital age, a property’s online presence is crucial and prospective buyers will quickly decide to arrange a viewing or pursue a sale if they like what they see. Professional street photography is perfect if your property is in the prettiest part of a town or a vibrant area. If you have the budget and a large or rural house that will benefit from the overview capabilities of drone footage, an aerial video can capture a home’s gardens, pinpoint its scenery and help viewers to see its impressive surroundings.
You can also promote the unique location of your property using bright, fabulous photos of any parts of Dartmoor, maybe a great view, famous landmarks nearby or anything special about the location. If a house has a breathtaking backdrop or overlooks something incredible, people who are viewing online need to know these location highlights especially if they are exceptional parts of a village, seaside town or historic part of the country.
Showcase a desirable address
Your home's address is so much more than the features inside the walls. If you are currently looking for a new home, or are about to list a property to sell, you’ll be aware of the value and importance in marketing your home to attract potential buyers’ interest and achieve your asking price.
When marketing and valuing a property, your estate agent already realises the value in advertising the unique selling points of your particular location. They place exceptional importance on advertising all the marketable features to help sell your property.
Once your house is on the market, an online search should reveal what is great about its location at the top of its listed description. Typically, it might emphasise how quiet a street is, if it’s tucked away in a cul-de-sac, well-positioned near a pretty church or set back from any busy, noisy roads. This search phase will relay its prized proximity to supermarkets, local amenities like leisure centres, gyms, parks, schools, bus routes and stations. In addition, the location description will be boosted with Map and Google Street Views. They pinpoint the exact address, the entire surrounding area and invite viewers to take an eye-opening virtual stroll to get to know the location in greater depth.
Mention the finer details
While descriptions speak volumes about a location and give buyers an idea of what to expect, people will always appreciate knowing the smaller details that are not obvious from online searches. A house that offers buyers a healthy and happy lifestyle appeals, so point out if your garden is south facing and if it only takes a few minutes to reach that lovely park.
With people more attracted to sustainable living, they will want to know a property’s ‘walkability score’ and the ease with which they can reach actual destinations. This might be in relation to schools and shops, access to public transport and local amenities. It also refers to the access of people physically (if they have mobility issues) and in practical terms if they don’t want to pay for parking, or want to live a greener life and not drive everywhere. With sustainability an important part of people’s lives, you might want to mention distinctive features like bike paths, community gardens and any nearby EV charging units in the street.
Likewise, naming a property can be beneficial as it can convey prestige about a house and its location. This could potentially add more value to your property (for a minimal investment), as well as attract more interest. However, it’s important to assign a name that appeals and reflects its distinct character like ‘Day Dawn’ or ‘Holly Tree Cottage’.
Listen to local insights
Talk openly to people living locally about what they think as their insights cost nothing but can be invaluable in the decision-making process. While you might be impressed by how near the children’s playground is, will they be safe for children and pets? Ask neighbours, shop owners and parents at local schools about why they love living there and any other insights about the neighbourhood.
Don’t forget to ask about local shops, healthcare provisions and restaurants. If you don't own a car, you’ll want to know how reliable the public transport is and if you have teenagers, a good bus route or nearby station is likely to make everyone’s lives easier. Likewise, if you work from home, you’ll want to check how good the local broadband speed is.
When you’re planning to buy a property, finding out as much as you can about the surrounding area is incredibly valuable. Ask your local estate agent for advice and read any ‘About Your Area’ pages. Experienced estate agents develop relationships with lots of local residents and are active in their local neighbourhood and business communities which is a great way to gain insider perspectives on properties and the locality.
For many the first point in a house move journey is to understand the value of their current home. Whether you want a quick, instant online valuation indication or a more robust specific and individual valuation, we would be delighted to help - click here to get your online valuation.
