Tag Archives: homes
British people aspire to build their own home with the very latest technology
There is still strong demand in the UK from people who want to build their own home with new research showing that 27% aspire to do so and many want the very latest technology. The most common reason for people building their own home is to have the freedom to design it how they want with 79% giving this reason, according to the research by price comparison website Confused. Some 33% would be fulfilling a life-long dream by building their own home and 33% want a property that is unique. But just 7% have actually fulfilled their dream. The research also shows that 34% say they would like to have more modern technologies in their home with 34% wanting to control appliance by smartphone, 21% wanting self flushing toilets and 20% voice activated lighting. Nearly half, 49%, say they would like to have a home security system, 46% would like to have underfloor heating and 40% would like to have a home cinema or entertainment system. Although many people want their homes to be more technologically advanced in the future, it’s clear that technology already plays an important part in today’s modern home. A third believe that modern technologies make running a home easier and 9% already control some household appliances with their phone. Of those who opt for mobile phone control, the majority, 62% use it to control their TV, 29% control their lighting and 13% use their phone to control their curtains. Some 25% say they prefer a more traditional home, 23% think modern technologies in the home encourages laziness and 17% think modern technologies in the home cause complications. Looking forward 10 years to 2025, it would seem that people expect innovative technologies designed to make our lives easier even more prevalent in the home. Some 44% say they think voice activated lighting will be commonplace in the home, with a further 43% predicting security systems with facial recognition will become a standard feature. Some 23% believe that in a decade homes will have remote controlled fridges, 22% foresee steam washing machines and 20% voice activated cookers. Other technological advances that people believe will be rolled out in homes across the country in years to come include sinks with built in dishwashers, smart kitchen surfaces that will identify what’s on them and have the ability to keep food at the right temperature and fridges which creates recipes for the food you have stored inside them. ‘We’re all individuals and it’s understandable that we’d want to reflect this within our homes. Building your own home is the ultimate step towards that goal whether you prefer a more traditional home or one with every gadget on the market,’ said Gareth Lane, head of home insurance at Confused. Continue reading
UK estate agents say controversial fracking plans already affecting home sales
Estate agents operating close to potential fracking sites in the UK are warning that the controversial technique is likely to wipe tens of thousands of pounds off the values of nearby properties. It could also make homes harder to sell with agents in areas already targeted by fracking companies reporting concerns from prospective buyers over looming shale developments, with some sales already falling through as a result. The findings from a survey of estate agents conducted by leading marketing research agency Redshift and for environmental campaigners Greenpeace UK in three key areas where energy firms are planning to carry out fracking in West Sussex, Manchester, and Lancashire, shows that 67% believe fracking could bring down prices. A majority of them estimate the loss in value could be up to 11% with two agents putting it as high as 41% to 70%. With the price of the average house in the UK estimated at £272,000, even just a 10% drop in value could translate into a loss of tens of thousands of pounds. Some 54% said they are concerned fracking could reduce property sales near potential sites. Most of those who say they’re concerned believe more than one in 10 purchases could be affected, with nine dealers putting the estimate as high as 25 to 50% of all sales. One in four respondents also say home buyers have expressed concerns about the prospect of fracking in the area, with four estate agents reporting some customers have pulled out as a result. The Department for Energy and Climate Change is expected to auction off licence blocks to fracking firms over an area covering more than half of Britain in the coming months. The government has previously stated there’s no evidence that fracking will affect house prices. But three quarters of the estate agents said fracking should not be permitted until more research is done. James Nisbet, who lives a few hundred metres from one of the Lancashire sites says a few potential buyers have pulled out of purchasing his £375,000 house after learning about the looming energy development. ‘We have had six viewings so far, all with very positive feedback, but no one wants to commit to buying with the fracking shadow hanging over us. I’ve been hearing the same story from quite a few people in the area. We have lived here for 15 years. I really like this place and I don’t want to move, but I also don’t particularly wish to stick around to see what fracking will do to this community,’ he said. Paula Higgins, chief executive of the Home Owners Alliance, said it is worrying that homeowners who happen to live in fracking zones are being kept in the dark on how fracking will affect them. ‘Some are already starting to bear the brunt through aborted… Continue reading
UK housing trends survey finds more people living alone and renting
The housing market in the UK is experiencing a number of key trend changes which mean the more people are living along and more are renting a home for the long term, new research has found. Of the 43% of those taking part in the Housing Futures Survey by Strutt & Parker who are single and planning to move in the next five years, some 75% expect to be living along and 45% of those aged 18 to 29 indicated they would consider living in a professionally managed private rental unit. The research suggests that future housing types and location decisions are being altered by access to technology. Nearly 36% of the respondents who were intending to move listed broadband connectivity as important or very important in their motivations for moving, and nearly 20% listed mobile coverage. It also suggests that alternative family structures are becoming more common, with 15% of respondents who intend to move anticipating living with more than one generation under the same roof compared with 10% in the previous survey. There is little sign of home owners planning to raise capital for pensions and their children’s housing needs by selling their property. Only 9% of those aged 40 to 59, and 0.4% of those aged 60 or older, rated financial support for children or relatives as important or very important when asked about motivations for moving, and 8% and 16% respectively for pension support or top-up. ‘The trends identify that single occupied households and alternative family households are growing, the younger generation is more open to the idea of renting and those moving into retirement are seeking more interactive environments. The impact of these trends inevitably means that in the future the homes we plan, design, build and live in must be different,’ said Stephanie McMahon, head of research at Strutt & Parker. ‘Lifestyle change remained the dominant motivation for moving, but in light of pension challenges and parents seeking to help their children onto the housing ladder, we were surprised to see that so few respondents ranked release of equity, pension top up and financial support for relatives as their reasons for moving home,’ she added. Continue reading
