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Everything changes on the home front. So what does the new year have in store for the real estate world? Here are predictions for the top trends of 2023.
Bos wonders
Forget pony pastures and swimming pools, in these times of fuel crisis, mature trees are the must-have of 2023.
In addition to feeding the biomass boiler and wood stove, chopping and stacking is a good workout.
The big indoors: Covid fueled a longing for country life among city slickers that shows little sign of abating
You should do your research, though: “Read more about tax breaks and planting grants,” says Charlie Rearden of Stacks Property Search.
“Speak to a broker who will advise on usage, maintenance, management and reliable contractors to assist with hazardous work.”
Rural hotspots
Covid fueled a longing for country life among city folk that hardly seems to be abating.
Estate agents Strutt & Parker say Herefordshire, Shropshire and Somerset will be in high demand by 2023, while Northerners will rush to buy in Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley (all ten minutes from the North York Moors) and the foodie haven of Malton.
Meanwhile, Carol Peett of West Wales property finders says: ‘This area will remain popular as long as we sell large multi-acre properties for the price of a small London flat.’
Energy efficiency counts
In the past, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) was seen as just another tick for sellers, but 2023 will be a buyer’s market and a house with a good EPC score is more likely to sell well.
Retrofitting (placing eco fixtures in older properties) is the buzzword of the year. Rightmove has been looking for homes with solar panels and heat pumps in recent years.
However, 2023 will be the year of Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), a system that filters the air and distributes it throughout the house. This way you don’t lose heat by opening windows.
>> How it can take 17 years for green home improvements to pay off
app happy
Smartphone apps that will control heating and lighting as well as security and home entertainment will be more widely used this year.
Staged lighting that comes on when someone enters a room and goes off when they leave helps cut bills.
Electric car charging stations are here to stay. Developers are now required to install an electric vehicle (EV) charging point in all new construction homes, with older homes likely to follow suit.
While each charge point costs around £976 according to the Department of Transport, a recent survey by Jackson-Stops estate agents found that 20 per cent of people want one in their next home.
>> Electric car charging prices skyrocket by 58% in eight months
Garden home office
With most people working from home during Covid, home office sales skyrocketed in the yard.
They still prove to be useful for office workers and children who need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the family.
They are cheap to run, have good sound insulation and will also be used as music studios, reading rooms, gyms and garden rooms.
Project self-build
Grand Designs’ daydreams could become reality for thousands, thanks to the government’s new Help to Build program.
Announced in June, it offers an equity loan of between 5 and 20 percent based on the estimated cost of buying a plot of land and building the house.
Wooden frames are most popular with home builders. Factory-made modular homes are already insulated, but they are slightly more expensive.
To learn more about DIY, the National Self Build & Renovation Center (NSBRC) in Swindon runs free courses.
Decor trends
The kitchen and family room with patio doors to the garden with sun terrace, pizza oven and barbecue will be in demand this summer.
In interiors, the Art Deco look is gaining popularity with elegant mixer taps, arches and vaulted furniture.
Some developers, such as St Modwen and Octagon, are making their ceilings a feature.
As for the interior color schemes, shocking pinks and magenta are coming. In fabrics and wallpaper, wide stripes or large checks are sufficient.