Outdoor space the new frontier for homebuyers

Dishwashers and solar panels have fallen off the wishlist for those shopping for a new home.

Adam and Clare Griffith are selling their renovated cottage in Sydney’s Newtown, which boasts a large outdoor area. Picture: John Feder

Dishwashers and solar panels have fallen off the wishlist for Australians shopping for a new home, as the pandemic shifts the wants of homebuyers to outdoor spaces.

Two years of lockdowns and working from home have made many recognise the importance of lifestyle attributes, with backyards, courtyards and home offices being appreciated more than ever.

Data from Realestate.com.au found pools and ­garages are still the most searched items on sites across all state and territory capitals, but subtle changes in buyer preferences are visible. Director of economic research at PropTrack, the data arm of REA Group, Cameron Kusher said it was most obvious in areas where there were extended lockdowns.

“You tend not to see too much movement in these trends but if you look at

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places like Melbourne and Sydney, that’s probably where you’ve seen a bit of a change,” Mr Kusher said.

“People are probably a little bit more aware of the features they want in a home. If they’re buying at the moment and looking at their needs, they’re probably going to be spending more time at home than they used to.”

Courtyards replaced the dishwasher on the top 10 list of wants in Melbourne through 2021 compared to 2019. Sydney buyers also preferred balconies over dishwashers. Solar panels were out of favour in Brisbane and Adelaide, instead replaced by sheds and studies in the respective capitals.

Interestingly, Hobart also recorded the most new entries, with three relating to views and water views. Mr Kusher believes this could be linked to the flood of mainlanders from Melbourne who are moving to Hobart for lifestyle and relative affordability.

Adam and Clare Griffith in their Newtown cottage. Picture: John Feder

In a twist of fate, Sydney couple Clare and Adam Griffith, aged 41 and 46, completed a large renovation to their Newtown worker’s cottage just prior to the pandemic with all the elements currently in demand.

Ms Griffith was already working from home as a project manager in the design industry, juggling family life and work, with the office on the mezzanine level designed to allow her to work while still keeping an eye on her little one in the back yard or the lounge.

“While the majority of the build was completed just before Covid lockdowns, it was such a blessing to have a new home so well suited to the crazy times,” she said.

“Our lockdown projects were all about adding the tropical holiday vibe and also using the renovated shed for our boxing gear, weights, bikes and all the things that kept us sane.”

They are now selling, with the intention to use the capital to open an eco-retreat in Bellingen, on the NSW mid-north coast.

Nathan Briggs, who has been charged with the sale through The Agency Inner west, said: “Back in 2019, it was about the closest train station and how long it would take to get to the city,” Mr Briggs said. “Now it’s about the living spaces.”

Buyer demand is not only having an effect on the established market, but has rippled into new housing offerings, with many builders changing their designs to suit the new demands.