A new study has found that the average homeowner in The Three Counties is willing to spend as much as £13,000 on special features to give their home added ‘wow factor’.

When it comes to adding special features to home, residents are willing to spend big, with 86 percent agreeing that they would pay more money for added extras. A large garden (47 percent) and a great view (39 percent) are the features most likely to be splurged on, with homeowners valuing outdoor space more than any other region in the country.

Some are even willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure they get exactly what they want in their home, with one in 10 saying they would be willing to reduce all other household expenditure to be able to afford the upgrades they want. What’s more, over one in 20 admit to financially overstretching themselves in pursuit of the perfect home.

When considering moving to a new house, homeowners in The Three Counties are also happy to compromise on the overall size of a property in order to get the features they want. The study found that over three-quarters of residents would sacrifice square footage for certain features, with a large garden, an en suite, and a great view all considered more essential than space.

Top 10 Most Desirable Features in a Home

1. Natural light
2. Storage
3. En-suite bathroom
4. Large garden
5. Garage
6. Outdoor seating area
7. A great view
8. A quality front door
9. Walk-in wardrobe
10. Kitchen island

The survey, commissioned by Origin, the UK’s leading manufacturer of aluminum doors and windows, found that the most sought-after feature in homes in the East of England is ample amounts of natural light, with 60 percent of local homeowners agreeing that this is important to them. This is followed by storage (56 percent) and an en-suite bathroom (55 percent).

Interestingly, homeowners in the area are less likely to compromise on the location of their home than the size or price, suggesting that location remains king. With the cost of homes rising year on year, it is no surprise that more than a quarter of Brits (26 percent) believe they are unlikely to ever afford a home with all the features they look for, no matter what sacrifices they make. Almost the same number (24 percent) claimed it is impossible to have a home with all desired features as one can never be truly satisfied.

Commenting on the findings, Property Consultant Alex Goldstein, said: “The results prove that people are often willing to pay a premium for the features that really matter to them. Having worked in the property sector for nearly 20 years, it is no surprise to me that natural light and storage take the top spots. However, we are also seeing new and emerging trends, like en-suite bathrooms and outdoor spaces, becoming far more important.

“Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, people are spending even more time in their homes and they have had to become multi-purpose – suitable for work, rest, and play. During the lockdown, people have had time to consider what they really want and need; be it designated workspaces, more accommodation for the children or a bigger garden. Once they have decided, they go the extra mile to get it, as they know they will get good use out of it and it will make the additional time spent in their home more enjoyable. An Englishman’s home is his castle, and, in his mind, he deserves all the comforts that go with it.”

What’s more, people are optimistic about how much value features can add to a home, with a great view expected to add up to 10 percent to the value of a home and natural light and outdoor seating both considered worthy of an eight percent increase. It is, therefore, no surprise that 15 percent of British homeowners intend to boost the value of their home by adding some extra ‘wow’ factor.

Kitchen manufacturer, Optiplan Kitchens, and bedroom manufacturer, Spaceslide, are hosting a special launch event to celebrate the opening of a new showroom in Marlow, which can be found in the converted 17^th century cottage, Barmoor House, situated on Clay Lane.

Taking place on Saturday 25^th January from 11am to 3pm, the launch event will provide guests with the opportunity to view the impressive range of kitchen and bedroom collections. In addition to being treated to a glass of fizz on arrival, at 11am and 2pm visitors will have the chance to listen to expert talks from the resident interior designer about the latest trends in interior design and gain an understanding of how these can be incorporated into the home.

Visitors to the event will also have access to exclusive offers which include an extra 5% all kitchen furniture and an extra 10% off all bedroom furniture.

Situated at the entrance of the popular Notcutts Garden Centre in the village of Booker, just 1.5 miles northwest of Marlow, the showroom is now positioned in the recently-renovated cottage which previously stood as a local florist and grocery store.

The ground floor of the cottage features five brand new Optiplan Kitchens’ collections, whilst upstairs is home to four new bedroom room sets displaying the latest fitted storage from Spaceslide. The displays showcase the vast array of sliding wardrobe door design options that can be created by varying the colour, finish, and size of the wardrobe doors.

Barry Beech, Showroom Manager, said, “Optiplan Kitchens has had a presence in Marlow for 12 years, during which we were located within the Notcutts Garden Centre. We made the decision to open our own space in the period cottage on the grounds of the garden centre in order to showcase both our brands to their full potential.

“We’re delighted to see the showroom come to life and we’d encourage anybody interested to pop down to our event to view the quality design and finish of both our kitchen and bedroom storage ranges.”
Optiplan Kitchens is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and retailers, selling high quality, handcrafted kitchens from a network of 14 showrooms across the country.

Optiplan Kitchens Hemel Hempstead

Optiplan Kitchens Hemel Hempstead is located just 5-minutes’ drive from the town centre and 24 miles northwest of London. Extremely well-connected, it is easily accessible from a number of large towns including Hemel, Leverstock Green, Boxmoor, Harpenden, South Harrow, Welwyn Garden City, St Albans, Bovingdon, Berkhamsted, Amersham, Pinner, Stanmore, and Watford. Reach us by car in just 15 minutes from St. Albans and Watford, and less than 20 minutes from Luton.

Optiplan Kitchens Marlow

Optiplan Kitchens Marlow is a short 10-minute drive (3.5 miles) from High Wycombe. The showroom can be found on Clay Lane just off junction 4 of the M40. It was opened in 2008 and has been creating kitchens in High Wycombe and beyond ever since.

21% of Watford homeowners do not think they will ever move to a new house again according to new research from Audley Villages. When discussing their current homes, it was found that those in the town have lived in it for an average of 14.2 years, slightly lower than the national average of 16.2 years.

Research out today from retirement village provider, Mayfield Villages, shows 21% of homeowners in Watford do not think they will ever move to a new house again. When discussing their current homes, it was found that those in the town have lived in it for an average of 14.2 years, slightly lower than the national average of 16.2 years.

When asked about addressing the UK housing shortage, two in five (40%) of those living in Watford pointed to greater support for older people who want to downsize their property as a means of stimulating the housing market. The research also revealed strong support for a reduction in stamp duty and more suitable housing options for older people with 38% and 33% of those surveyed calling for this.

Although there is little current appetite to move home, over two in five (44%) of those in Watford have an unused room in their home suggesting a greater amount of living space than is necessary. Alongside this, well over half (56%) have a spare bedroom and on average they have used it just 8 times in the last six months.

With the number of over 75s in the UK likely to double in the next 30 years1, the issue of limited housing options is becoming an ever more pressing concern. Specialist housing, including retirement housing, currently only accommodates 5% of the over-65 population2 so supply will need to significantly increase to even maintain existing levels of provision as the population ages.

Nick Sanderson, CEO at Mayfield Watford, commented: “For those looking to move, their great motivation can also be their greatest barrier. They are desperately looking for the right property but they simply don’t exist or are currently filled, a fundamental flaw in the UK’s housing system and one that needs immediate attention.

Many in Watford are living in homes too big for them yet have no plans to move. Rather than solely focusing on first time buyers, policy makers should be encouraging downsizing while taking a crucial look at building high quality specialist housing which can meet the demands of the ageing population. This should come hand in hand with other initiatives like a reduction in stamp duty which would support those looking to move out of their family homes. Only with a multi-pronged approach will we be able to solve the housing crisis, and the government need to start by looking at our ever-increasing ageing population and their needs.”