sandfords
Specialists in Sales, Lettings and acquisition of prime residential property in Central and North West London
Kitchen crazy - TV chefs and cooking shows influencing home movers' demands
Cooking up a storm
A modern kitchen = more desirability The research by a property portal questioned estate and letting agents across the country, and found that people want to spend more time in their kitchen, which is having a knock on effect when looking for a new home. In fact, 28% of agents questioned said a modern kitchen was the one feature most likely to prove attractive to potential buyers - beating a driveway or off-street parking and a back garden in the desirability stakes.
It appears central London property buyers have caught the cooking bug, with something called 'the Mary Berry effect' taking the home moving world by a storm. A recent poll has revealed that 43% of adults said that a modern kitchen was most desirable when viewing a property because they had been influenced by TV chefs and shows such as The Great British Bake Off.
Kitchens also in vogue in lettings
Kitchens also add value As well as building on the home cooking trend, a modern kitchen also adds value to a property. Agents estimate that a new kitchen can add anything from ÂŁ5,000 to ÂŁ50,000 to the value of a property, depending on where the residence is located and the type of improvement. Research by Zopa concluded that there is a 49% return on a new kitchen investment - a bigger return than if owners installed a new bathroom.
The trend was also replicated in the lettings market, where Central London letting agents and their counterparts across the country agreed that a modern kitchen was the most desirable feature among tenants (36%), while only 18% said a driveway or off street parking.
Buyers and tenants demanding better kitchens
Andrew Ellinas, the Managing Director at Central London letting agents Sandfords, says many of his clients - both buyers and tenants - request state-of-the art, open plan or dine-in kitchens when they register: "The kitchen is viewed very much as the heart of the home and we have seen a rise in the number of clients looking for large, wellequipped kitchens so they can cope with the demands of family life as well as entertain in style."
Kitchens also add value Buyers of flats and houses for sale in Central London are a good barometer when it comes to forecasting kitchen trends. Andrew Ellinas continues: "Buyers often come to us with a kitchen wish list and we find current 'must haves' include an island, a breakfast bar, two ovens, a built-in wine cooler, integrated appliances, space for a large dining table, an instant hot water tap and specialist appliances such as a plate-warming/bread proving drawer, a steam oven, a griddle plate and a built-in coffee maker.
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Sandfords Property Management 6 Nottingham Place, London W1U 5NA T: +44 (0)20 7099 1133 F: +44 (0)20 7487 3393 pm@sandfords.com www.sandfords.com