How Home Buyers Have Changed over 10 Years

For many Hemel Hempstead sellers, the biggest change over the last decade is not just what buyers want, but how much they already know before they ever book a viewing. Today’s buyers compare, research and question far more than they used to, which means the way your home is priced, presented and marketed matters from the very beginning.

Think back to 2016

Think back to 2016.

Leicester City were Premier League champions, the iPhone 7 had just been launched, and if your home had a conservatory and a decent kitchen, many buyers were impressed.

Fast forward to today. Leicester City's fortunes are very different, iPhones have evolved beyond recognition, and home buyers expect far more than they did a decade ago.

Buyers now notice more before they view

Back then, floor plans weren't always included, broadband speed rarely came up in conversation, and few people gave any thought to charging an electric vehicle.

Today, those things can influence whether a buyer books a viewing in the first place.

Before they've even picked up the phone, today's buyers have often compared your home with dozens of others online.

They've checked what similar properties have sold for, studied the EPC rating, looked at local school ratings and probably taken a virtual drive down the street using Google Street View.

By the time they walk through your front door, they're not discovering your property. They're deciding whether it lives up to their expectations.

That's why first impressions have never mattered more.

Your home is being compared instantly

Today's buyers aren't comparing your home with just one or two others.

They're comparing it with every similar property currently on the market in Hemel Hempstead.

If the photographs are poor, the asking price feels ambitious or important information is missing, they'll often move on without asking a single question.

Expectations have changed

Expectations have changed in other ways too.

Many buyers are balancing higher mortgage costs with the rising cost of home improvements, so they're thinking much more carefully before taking on a project.

A property doesn't have to be perfect, but buyers want to understand exactly what they're getting.

Uncertainty often puts them off more than the work itself.

Speed matters as well

Speed matters as well.

We're all used to getting answers quickly.

If viewing requests go unanswered or buyers must chase for information, enthusiasm can disappear surprisingly fast.

Buyers are better informed

Perhaps the biggest change, though, is that buyers arrive well informed.

Ten years ago, many relied on estate agents to explain the market.

Today, they often spend hours researching online before they even arrange a viewing.

Estate agency done ethically

At David Doyle, we are proud members of the Ethical Agent Network. That means our work is independently assessed against standards for honesty, service, professionalism and community care, which matters when sellers need clear advice on how today’s buyers really behave.

Selling needs to move with the times

Selling successfully is no longer about putting a property online and hoping for the best.

It's about accurate pricing, professional marketing, honest advice and making it as easy as possible for buyers to say "yes".

Buyers have changed dramatically over the past decade.

If you're thinking of moving, make sure the way your home is marketed has changed with them.

Six Steps to a Successful Sale

A practical guide to preparing your home, choosing the right strategy and selling with confidence.

Read online