Agent Assesses New Priorities For Super-Prime Buyers

Camilla Dell and her colleagues at buying agency Black Brick share their insights into the ‘new priorities’ for super-prime property buyers post-Covid.

What’s going up?

Home offices. With many large corporations struggling to navigate how to bring people back to work safely, let alone get on a tube or airplane, top of the list right now is home office space. Clients want spaces where they can hide away from the kids, ideally with soundproofed walls, but lots of natural light and adequate space to avoid hunching over a small desk, making it a pleasant space to work for extended periods.

Wifi speed. There was a time a few years back when buyers would ask for space for large clunky servers. The use of the ‘cloud’ and technology like Office 365 negates the need for large servers with air-conditioned units to keep the room cool. Whilst tech has moved on, fast wifi speed is still critical.

Basements/cellars. We’ve become accustomed to working out by ourselves with an online class or 1:1 personal trainer on Zoom. So many buyers are happy to convert a basement or cellar into a personal gym. Clients are also asking for space to consider building a swimming pools, sauna and spas.

Bishops Row, Fulham (Octagon)

Gardens with space for veg patches. A big trend for those with gardens and some extra time on their hands, is buying and planting veg. Over recent months, many have valued self-sufficiency, showing children when their food comes from and the satisfaction of growing your own. The kitchen is evolving into the kitchen garden. And much like the premium that goes on a ‘starchitecht’ property, gardens which have been designed by a celebrity garden designer have added cache.

Sustainability features. Clients see the benefits of developments which have recycling and waste disposal services to help control rubbish, especially where public serves have been under strain with reduced pick ups.

Larger kitchens/ dining areas. Going forward, we expect people to do more home entertaining with a small ‘bubble’ of friends, therefore space to cook and entertain will be higher up the wish list, possibly with personal chefs catering for small groups, with hygiene front of mind.

Rockwood, Prestbury (Fine & Country)

Large playrooms/space for children to learn/home school. Once the British winter comes and children can’t get outside as readily, space for children to play with siblings or a small bubble of friends will become the ‘new normal’ – we expect a demand for flexible spaces where children can play as they grow.

Additional services. This has always been popular, but with an increase in online shopping and deliveries, a property with a concierge or housekeeping services will have added influence. We’re also seeing some developers being clever with added services such as private health care plans built into their management packages.

What’s going down?

Proximity to the Tube. The latest news from the BMA that any enclosed spaces will increase risk, means that people will be looking for alternative means of getting to work, or indeed, simply working from home more.

Proximity to airport links. Similarly, the increase in remote working, will decrease the demand for international travel, so a home on the Piccadilly line or close to the Heathrow Express will be less important.

Apartment blocks. Especially those with shared facilities such as pools/gyms will become a lower priority, as people are now adept at training in their own homes.

Find out more at www.black-brick.com.