Taylor Scott International News
Good schools have come out top in a survey of parents in the UK asked about their priorities when choosing a place to live. Some 72% of parents placed a good local school among their top three, followed by 37% favouring somewhere with good transport links and 33% highlighting the importance of a community feel, according to the research from Redrow Homes. Being close to family members came fourth overall but, while this was a big priority for 33% of mums, only 22% of dads saw it as important. When children were asked what's most important to them about where they live, 60% said it was being near to their friends, followed by 49% who liked to be close to school while 47% valued having lots of parks and green space nearby, and 17% who thought being near facilities such as a cinema was vital. Parents were also asked about their dream home and what they look for most in the property itself. Some 54% chose a new build, either in the city, country or suburbs. The research found that not everyone is happy with their current home with only half of those living in an old house in the country saying this is their dream home type and a quarter actually admitting they dream of living in a new build in the country. Some 65% of those who already live in a new build in the country, city or suburbs say it's their dream home type. In terms of what they look for in the property itself, outdoor space came out overwhelmingly on top with 74% picking a garden as one of their top three desirable features, followed by 44% wanting off-street parking and 39% storage space. A modern fitted kitchen with integrated appliances and a house that is economical to run were also popular attributes, chosen by 23% and 22% respectively. The research shows how important choosing the right home and neighbourhood is for people buying a home, according to Dave Bexon, group sales and marketing director for Redrow Homes. The research also found that when asked what they liked most about their own homes, children chose their bedroom, with almost three quarters placing it among their top three. Maybe to be expected, personal space becomes more important as children get older, with 81% of youngsters aged 11 to 16 choosing their bedroom among their favourite things about their home, compared to 69% of children aged four to 10. A garden came second, with 45% of all children surveyed saying it was one of the things they liked most, followed by the living room. Taylor Scott International
Taylor Scott International, Taylor Scott
