The most important features for first time buyers

Pillars of the community: Local pub, post office and GP surgery top the list when buying a home.

• Three quarters (75%) of Brits say a pub is the most important lifestyle amenity when buying a new home
• For local services, access to a local GP comes out on top for 7 in 10 (70%)
• Jackson-Stops’ latest Property Pulse Survey points to many Brits looking for a return to the high streets of old, with post office (51%) topping the charts as the most important local shop followed by corner shop (45%), farm shop (33%), butcher (23%), baker (21%) and greengrocer (18%)

The pub is the most important lifestyle amenity for three quarters (75%) of the nation, according to new research from national estate agency, Jackson-Stops. The findings come amidst a backdrop of declining pubs across the UK, in which 80 pubs are reported to disappear a month due to rising costs*.

The research, which surveyed over 3,000 of Jackson-Stops customers from across England and Wales, also underscored the importance of several high street staples and the support for local business at a time when many are under huge economic pressures. 51% of respondents cited the post office as the most important shops in the local area when buying a new home, followed by a corner shop (45%), farm shop (33%), butcher (23%), baker (21%) and greengrocer (18%).

Nick Leeming, Chairman of Jackson-Stops’ comments, “With this research we aimed to understand the features and amenities that are most important to buyers right now. Our intriguing results not only help us connect with buyers, but also remind us that a house is much more than just bricks and mortar. Location can make or break a sale. It is heartwarming to see the nation’s support for local businesses, a yearning for the high streets of old. Villages that still embody these characteristics undoubtedly command a sizeable house price premium as a result.

“In particular, in the face of depleting local pubs, the popularity of villages and homes near well-regarded watering holes will continue to grab homebuyers’ attention. Just like our homes, our local pubs can represent more than just a place to eat or drink, acting as a local focal point to make new acquaintances and connect to the community. They say a dog makes a house a home, then perhaps for British homeowners a pub makes the perfect community.” 

[Table 1: Jackson-Stops’ latest research revealing the most important local lifestyle amenities when buying a new home]

Local doctors important to 70% of homebuyers
As local GP services struggle under the weight of NHS pressures, the survey results indicate the significant value placed on them by prospective homebuyers. 7 in 10 (70%) respondents cited access to a local GP as the most important local service when buying a property, vastly ahead of broadband (46%) and local transport (25%). The NHS was a hot topic for the Election battleground, under pressure to tackle appointment waiting times and conclude NHS strikes, putting health care and medication at the fore of people’s minds.

In a similar theme, health and fitness were also high on the priority list for homebuyers with sports facilities (53%) and spa or health clubs (25%) all making it into the top five.

[Table 2: Jackson-Stops’ latest research revealing the most important local services for homebuyers when looking at buying a new home] 

Buyers seek traditional high street staples
Turning to the heart of the high street, the local post office (51%) came out on top as the most important shop when buying a new home, followed by the humble corner shop (45%).

As a nod to supporting local businesses and sustainable food sources, farm shops took third place, important to one in three (33%) prospective homebuyers who took part in the national survey.

Other quintessential English high street staples that featured prominently on the list included a butcher (23%), baker (21%) and greengrocer (18%) coming in at 5^th, 6^th and 7^th place – above a hairdresser (5%) and charity shop (2%).

[Table 3: Jackson-Stops’ latest research revealing the most important local shops when buying a new home]

Nick Leeming concludes: “In the digital age when everything is at our fingertips, the research shows that physical amenities, thriving communities and neighbours that we know by name are important considerations. Perhaps one of the few positives that came from lockdown, many continue to shift their focus to work-life balance and the close-knit communities on our doorstops as flexible working is here to stay.

“However, in an economy where many small businesses such as pubs and farms are struggling to survive, those villages and towns with genuinely thriving high-streets and well-regarded eateries will be harder to find, and as a result those left will become the focus for prime homebuyers. Buyers must move quickly to secure their slice of the pie.”