This Is the Most Sought-After Room for Homebuyers, According to One Study

It appears a dedicated home office is not the top priority for homebuyers any longer — at least in the U.K.

A new study from real estate agency Purplebricks has found that the home office is no longer the most popular room in British households, but rather, it’s now the dining room. Among buyers, 70 percent say they want a separate dining room for entertaining purposes, while only 64 percent seek en-suite bathrooms, 55 percent for offices, and 48 percent for kitchen islands.

Meanwhile, among property features, potential homeowners now prefer garages (79 percent) the most, followed by an open-plan kitchen (77 percent), a guest bedroom (73 percent), and a large garden (49 percent).

“Getting together with friends and family is now a priority for many, after so much time spent apart over the last few years. Properties with separate dining rooms or kitchens with space for eating and socialising are proving extremely popular with buyers,” said James Hummerstone-Pope, Divisional Sales Director at Purplebricks.

He added: “This trend is likely to continue, so those trying to sell their home may find that creating an inviting dining area will make their home more appealing.”

This study did not include data about American preferences, but Realtor.com notes a National Association of Home Builders report that states 70 percent of buyers still prefer to have a dining room — that is even though two thirds of homeowners use theirs for something other than dining, according to an Angi study from 2017.