Changing attitudes of post-lockdown buyers have led to new purchasing priorities, and three storey living could fast reach the forefront of the minds of Worcestershire house hunters.

Barratt Homes West Midlands has a range of fantastic three storey homes available to reserve, including the flexible four bedroom Kingsville style home at Henbrook Gardens in Stoke Prior.

Since March, homeowners have had to re-evaluate what matters most to them and, according to TwentyCi[1], there are many new requirements amidst property seekers. 

The demand for four bedroom properties is up 72%, and 79% for properties with five bedrooms or more, meaning one of the greatest impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on the property market is the desire for larger properties, perhaps to accommodate home working. 

Gardens have also come out on top with house hunters with 55% more properties with gardens selling in comparison to 2019, as the importance of an outdoor retreat resonates with new homebuyers.

The Kingsville family home has been designed with modern family living in mind. The ground floor features an open plan kitchen, dining and family area with French doors to the garden as well as the fourth bedroom which could be used as a study. 

On the first floor there is the main bedroom with en suite and lounge. On the second floor there is two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. 

Tanya Silk, Sales Director at Barratt Homes West Midlands, said: “Larger living spaces and properties with gardens are undoubtedly the two greatest priorities for new homebuyers at present, especially the ability to work from home which can be accommodated in many of our properties with dedicated studies.

“With space to live, work and enjoy outside space, the versatile layouts of our three storey properties at our Westonhall Road development could be perfect for modern homebuyers.”

Barratt Homes' top three reasons why three storey living could become the way forward, are:

Personal Space for Home Working
 
It's no surprise property seekers are looking for space to work from home should they need it. As reported by the Office for National Statistics[2], 86% of people in employment worked from home as a result of Covid-19, with 30.3% being more productive and committing to more hours than usual.

When working from home, it's important to have a space away from the hustle and bustle of a family home, which three storey living provides with an extra floor. A top floor in a Barratt home can accommodate a main bedroom or two separate bedrooms, offering the freedom to create a peaceful retreat to work in, whilst a dedicated study or fourth bedroom downstairs offers a similar opportunity.

Relaxing Gardens 

The ability to enjoy open spaces has also become a necessity, with homebuyers promoting their own outdoor retreat to the top of their wish lists. Searches made by buyers for homes with gardens on Rightmove were up 42% in May in comparison with 2019, and increased by 84% over the same period among renters[3].

A perk of a three storey property is that, in addition to a larger living space, purchasers will have a garden to enjoy, whether that be for a chic retreat or maybe even a herb garden, there are many opportunities for an autumnal outdoor space.

Energy Efficiency
 
As with all Barratt Homes properties, energy efficiency is a key feature and three storey homes are no exception. Compared with an older house with modern improvements, each property built by the five star developer is up to 65% more energy efficient[4].

This is exactly what's needed during the colder months, especially with people spending more time at home when keeping warm is of utmost importance. Findings from Migrate[5] found that 40% of people surveyed admitted delaying putting their heating on due to the costs involved; which is one less thing to worry about with a new build home.

For Worcestershire homebuyers, the benefits of three storey living can be viewed online with 360-degree virtual tours of the Kingsville home at threestoreyliving.co.uk/development/henbrook-gardens/home/Kingsville 

Henbrook Gardens is open on an appointment only basis, to find out more call the sales team on 0333 355 8475.or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk/henbrookgardens. 

A detailed set of working practices and protocols has been developed by Barratt so that its construction sites can operate safely and in line with the latest guidance from Government, Public Health Authorities and the Construction Leadership Council.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS                                                                                                                  

1.     For further information about Barratt Homes please contact Alice Warner on 0116 247 1777 or alice@unsworthsugden.co.uk  

2.     Barratt Homes is part of Barratt Developments PLC, a FTSE100 company

3.     Barratt was awarded a maximum five star rating for the 11th consecutive year in the 2020 Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction Survey

4.     Site managers working for Barratt Group won 92 awards for quality workmanship in the 2020 NHBC Pride in the Job Awards. Barratt has won more Pride in the Job awards than any other housebuilder for the last 16 years.

[1] https://bar.co.uk/the-major-changes-on-property-purchasing-behaviours-client-briefing/

[2]https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/coronavirusandhomeworkingintheuk/april2020

[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52922313

[4] https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-is/warm/

[5] https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/turn-heating-winter-date-britain-20531224