231: He wants a house, she wants a home…
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When it comes to purchasing that perfect home, opinions of what really counts can be divided. The views of men and women can often be so different that arguing on viewing trips and the eventual falling through of a sale is all too common. Emily Aklan of Property Psychology has been helping people purchase property for over 15 years, she comments, “I have worked with many single men, single women and couples in my career and have found that what is really important to male buyers is often the last thing a female purchaser considers. Men and women, I believe, naturally have different priorities; men take on the role of hunter-gatherer whilst a woman’s priority quite often is providing a warm, safe environment for her family. These attitudes certainly do translate into the world of purchasing property in my opinion.”
When male buyers seek a property, be it a bachelor pad or a family home, their main concern is practicality. Are there enough bedrooms? Is the central heating in good working order? Is there a garage for my car? Men view a home as a functional space in which to live as opposed to women who feel that their home is more of a sanctuary than a hotel. Adequate storage areas are a sought after feature for both men and women but often for different purposes. Men look for exterior spaces such as garages or sheds for tools and equipment whereas women look for fitted wardrobes or alcoves within the home suitable for clothes, shoes and belongings.
As DIY is often a man’s domain, concerns about the level of structural work to be done are frequently voiced. Some men will relish a run down property, seeing it as a challenging project; others less acquainted with Black & Decker will look for properties with minimal DIY requirements. In contrast, for women the aesthetics of a property are a major point. Considering how a home is currently decorated and imagining how it could be, are all part of the fun of house hunting. Women are more inclined to consider which fashionable wallpaper to mount rather than if the shower or double glazing needs replacing.
When considering the exterior of the property, again priorities differ. Outdoor space is equally important to both sexes but men seem to prefer large open spaces which can be used practically for playing with the children or accommodating a shed for example. Women in contrast often look at the details such as if there is decking for al fresco dining, landscaping or lighting. The aesthetics of the exterior of the property also seem to be of higher importance to women than men, they want their home to be beautiful on the inside and out and so top-to-toe pebble dash is clearly a no-no!
As they say location is the key factor of any property investment. But what a man deems a great spot is often not a woman’s idea of paradise. Being within walking distance of a suitable watering hole, convenience store, fast food outlet and the train station are key requirements for men. Whereas, being near a good school, local shopping centre and within a nice community are top priorities for female purchasers, especially those with children. Living in a safe neighbourhood is also of great importance to women even if they have to pay more for the privilege.
It was traditionally the man who bought and owned property investment, with women moving from their father’s house to their husband’s, but in this generation we are seeing a real shift towards equal purchasing and ownership of property. The increase of single unit households has meant that more single women than ever are purchasing investment property themselves and this has meant that women have had to become far more familiar with sledgehammers and combi boilers. Emily comments, “In the last few years I have seen a notable increase in the numbers of single property purchasers. It seems that single buyers, be they male or female, are being forced to assume both roles and consider both the practicality and aesthetics of a property in order to make a successful purchase.”
Source:
Ashton Billige Property Marketing Ltd