Rightmove hints at massive changes in buyers’ priorities

Rightmove has suggested there may be massive changes underway in buyers’ priorities as the housing market resumes and the country begins to consider what a ‘new normal’ may look like.

Instead of its usual statistics on asking price movements, the portal has used its monthly housing market snapshot to indicate what may be new buyer requirements which in turn may have a bearing on new property trends.

“The traditionally busy spring market was curtailed by lockdown, but we’re now seeing clear signs of returning momentum, with the existing desire to move now being supplemented by some people’s unhappiness with their lockdown home and surroundings” explains Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst.

On virtual viewings, Rightmove suggests: “That content will also prove to be effective to highlight homes that have suitable spaces for working from home, which may now be towards the top of must-have lists for many buyers whose commuting life has been curtailed for the foreseeable future. Conversely, proximity to stations or motorways and short journey to work times may become less important.”

He continues: “We already saw some early signs of people enquiring more about out-of-city areas so it will be interesting to see if this leads to a change in where people choose to buy now the market has been unlocked.”

Likewise this shift to increased use of video viewings - endorsed by the government which says it wants more transactional activity handled online in the near term - has advantages including “freeing sellers of the need to maintain a constant state of tidiness and letting them avoid the frustration of no-shows often associated with frequent physical viewings” claims the portal.