Why do we choose our homes?

According to a survey from MyHomeMove, 56% of us claim it's because we have fallen in love with it. For women, those numbers are even higher at 59%.

There is no doubt, the ‘right’ house does generate a strong emotional response. When people were asked what it was that induced those feelings, 58% said it was location. Conversely, the wrong location was said to be the biggest turn-off for 43% of respondents. The ones who were most flexible about their choices were younger buyers - only 37% of them citing location as the key driver of positive response to a property.

Doug Crawford, CEO of MyHomeMove, explains:

“Many first time buyers struggle to take their first step onto the property ladder, so younger buyers are more willing to scout out up-and-coming areas to try and find a bargain to fall in love with.”

It is no surprise to find that one of the most important drivers of all is money. Buyers put it some way above aesthetics –40% of people would be put off by the cost of a house compared to 34% who would be put off by a property’s looks. Value for money, on the other hand, is likely to generate a positive response, with 37% saying they fell in love with a property because they believed they were getting a bargain.

In the UK, our love of gardens is already well documented, so outside space also ranked very highly on our desirability list a major factor for 29% of us.

Road names, though, leave us cold (1%), as do, more surprisingly, fireplaces (2%).

Below is a list of some of the other reasons the survey uncovered as to why we might fall in love with somewhere:

Good transport links 40% Nearby green area (Park, fields, forest) 35% Close to amenities (shops, cafes, restaurants, etc) 32% Proximity to school 29% Proximity to family 29% Proximity to work 23% Up and coming area 16% Proximity to friends 9%

And here are some more reasons given for why we might fail to bond with a property:

Wrong location 43% Price - too expensive 40% Appearance - inside 34% Too small 30% Appearance - outside 26% Don't know 20% Poor value for money 9% Too big 7% Neighbours 7% Didn't feel safe 5%

Our feelings for a property, it transpires, are also conditional - we fall in love far more quickly in a rising market than we do in a falling one, when we tend to be more critical.

If you are looking for a new home, just give us a call at Sears and we will use our in-depth local knowledge to help find you one that you can truly fall in love with.