Why compromise could be the key to finding your perfect property

Whether you’re purchasing your very first property or moving onto pastures new, finding the best property for your budget is a top priority. As a first-time buyer or home mover, you’ll have your own list of property wants and needs. Whilst some of the items on your list are property essentials that you can’t compromise on, there are many that should be considered negotiable.

In this blog post, we reveal the top negotiables for home movers, and how compromise is the key to finding your perfect property.

Décor

Seeing beyond current décor is one piece of advice every estate agent will give when viewing a property. It is unlikely that your taste will be reflected in every property you view, and if it is, you’re likely to pay a premium for purchasing a turnkey property that requires minimal décor updates.

Decoration is a common compromise that only a few property buyers go on to regret. Compromising on the structural condition underneath however is a different story as Which? explains:

“…while 23% bought a home with decor that wasn’t to their taste, just 5% regretted it – perhaps because dodgy colour schemes aren’t too expensive to replace. A leaking roof, on the other hand, is usually much more costly to repair. It’s no surprise, then, that compromising on structural condition was homebuyers’ biggest regret, with 30% wishing they hadn’t.”

Layout

The layout of a property is another priority that can and should be compromised on. Whilst dark, pokey rooms that are made to appear larger than they actually are commonly featured on the lists of top house hunting turn offs, an open floor plan isn’t always a given for your price range.

Properties with more open layouts also tend to suffer in terms of square footage, with rooms with dual purpose often much smaller in new-build properties than they are as separate spaces in more traditional dwellings.

Compromising on an open plan now could free up the funds you need to remodel in the not-too-distant future. When viewing, make a note of load-bearing walls to see if your dream of an open-plan space can be realised a little later down the line.

Location

Whilst often billed as the top non-negotiable, the location of your search can always be stretched to offer more bang for your budget. Whether you’re expanding your search area to get more house for your money or want to purchase a cheaper property for longer-term savings, opting for an up-and-coming area rather than the perfect location is recommended.

An up-and-coming area that’s currently or set to be a focus for regeneration will unlock better value for money when buying. Once improvements in the area have been completed, you’ll also own a property in a desirable place to live, which means you can enjoy a higher resale price in the future.

Outdoor amenities

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, property buyers have put more precedence on garden space. A good-sized garden remains a key non-negotiable, with the great outdoors offering an easy way to extend your living space all year round.

While a decent garden is something you shouldn’t compromise on, a garage is. Not every home will have garage space available, and those that do, tend to have minimal front or back garden space as a result. Give up the garage if a larger garden or off-road parking is a priority for you.

Image: Tero Vesalainen