HQM highlights changing attitudes to buying a new home

Home Quality Mark (HQM), an independently assessed mark of distinction for new homes, has analysed the reasons behind consumer choices when buying a new property.

It found that the main concern homebuyers have is the community where the property is located with 67% of respondents citing this as the most important factor.

The research shows how the most important factors in deciding to buy a new house have changed over the decades, contrasting with how luxury bathrooms and kitchens were the most important factors in the 1980’s.

The latest data shows that 78% of Brits feel that high standards of workmanship are very important or a necessity and that daylight levels are a high priority for 71%.

However, consumers don’t have a high level of trust in housebuilders, with just 10% saying they trust housebuilders, which means that homebuyers are happy to pay a small premium for a property with a recognised quality certificate and to have an assurance that the building has been built to a high level of quality.

HQM is urging housebuilders to provide quality offerings in line with this growing consumer taste but this could be at risk from the rush to meet government targets on building new homes. The target is one million new homes by 2020.

HQM wants to encourage the new homes that are built to last for generations and for developers large and small to build high quality, well thought out homes that have a range of benefits for new local communities.

Gwyn Roberts, Home Quality Mark Project Lead says: “Consumers are embracing a wide range of social, environmental and economic needs and together, we need to better consider these factors to aid the purchasing process. 

“It’s interesting to see how consumers’ preferences evolve and adapt and we want to encourage even more consumers to consider buying and renting better designed, healthier, smarter and cheaper to run homes. 

“Over 4000+ homes are now registered under HQM and the ‘movement’ for better homes is growing among progressive housebuilders.  We’re keen to help this continue, supporting this ever-growing focus on quality, quality, quality”.

HQM wants a new build quality mark to cover a range of areas that includes the impact of the build on lighting levels, heating costs, whether the new home is self-sustainable as well as the quality of the structure of the building so that it shows that good materials have been used by a skilled workforce to create robust and attractive homes.

For more information, visit www.homequalitymark.com