Backyards, bedrooms, or barbecue areas? New research reveals what Aussies really look for in a dream home. 

A sprawling backyard, a swimming pool and even a generous deck can sound appealing.

But new research shows these home features rank pretty low on the wish lists of many Australians.

A survey by Compare the Market has lifted the lid on the most popular home features¹.

And it seems these days, we are less interested in ‘the great outdoors’, and more focused on indoor creature comforts when it comes to features that define our ideal home. 

The most popular home feature  

Topping the leader board of most popular home features is…drum roll please…multiple bedrooms!

It’s really no great surprise that two out of five (39%) people want more than one bedroom. After all, a bedroom can be so much more than a place to sleep. That spare bedroom can easily be put to work as a home office, a kid’s play room, a guest room or just used for extra storage. We’re also keen on more space, with 28% of us wanting big bedrooms².  

In addition, Aussies want homes that offer year-round comfort, with 37% pointing to air conditioning/heating as a highly desirable home feature.

Just over one in four (25.9%) rated ensuite bathrooms as a highly desirable home feature.

Many experts advise the kitchen is the first room buyers check out and therefore the perfect place to add some value. Fresh paint or upgraded appliances can quickly refresh a kitchen and boost its overall appeal. Here are some home improvements that can add value to your home. 

The biggest home turn-offs

At the other end of the spectrum, a number of home features fail to set our pulses racing.

According to Compare the Market³, Australians tend to place low value on assets outside of the home.  

Most notably, pools got this biggest number of thumbs down, with 43.1% ranking a backyard swimming pool as their least valued home feature. 

Other ‘meh’ features include balconies (26.6%), car ports (25.4%) and decks (19.4%).

What home buyers can take from these findings 

It’s interesting that no single home feature scored a majority (50%-plus) ranking from survey respondents. This goes to show how different features are valued by different home buyers.

The beauty of home ownership is that it’s all about finding the place that’s right for you.

If you have a large family of young children, or a loving collection of pooches, chances are a good-sized backyard will rank high on your list of must-have home features.

On the other hand, if you’re part of a kid-free couple, you may be more concerned about the interior comfort of a home rather than being prepared to wear the time and maintenance costs of a large garden, let alone a backyard swimming pool.

That said, as Compare the Market notes, a home with a lot of desirable attributes may cost more.

This makes it a good idea to sort your ‘must-haves’ from the nice-but-not-necessary home features and knowing renovation costs helps.

If your budget doesn’t extend to your dream home, a little compromise can help you find a property that has most of what you want and is priced within your budget. 

^Sources:

^{1https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/news/backyards-and-bedrooms-what-makes-an-aussie-dream-home/}

^{2https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/news/backyards-and-bedrooms-what-makes-an-aussie-dream-home/}

^{3https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/news/backyards-and-bedrooms-what-makes-an-aussie-dream-home/}