When it’s cold outside, nothing makes your home more inviting than a roaring fire to keep warm in front of. GetAgent.co.uk has taken a look at which cities present the best chance for homebuyers currently searching the market to find a home with a fireplace.
GetAgent analysed current property market listings across 23 major UK cities to see which was home to the highest number of homes offering the added bonus of a fireplace and where this feature was most in-demand amongst homebuyers.
The data shows that on average, just 19% of properties currently listed on the market offer a fireplace and they’re clearly in hot demand, with 71% of those already sold subject to contract or under offer.
Fireplace availability
In terms of the best fireplace availability, Swansea ranks top with 32% of all homes listed on the market coming complete with this winter warming feature.
Sunderland also ranks high with 27% of homes boasting a fireplace along with Nottingham, while in Bradford, Plymouth and Leeds as many as a quarter of current property listings are fit with a fireplace.
Manchester offers the lowest chance of finding a fireplace property, with just 7% of current homes for sale having one.
Fireplace homebuyer demand
In terms of the highest demand for fireplace homes, Glasgow ranks top where 86% of properties offering one have already sold. Bristol also ranks high at 85%, with fireplaces also popular in Cambridge (83%), Sheffield (81%) and Plymouth (81%).
Aberdeen is home to the lowest demand for fireplace properties with just 14% of those listed having already gone under offer or sold subject to contract.
Colby Short, Founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, commented: “There’s nothing better than a cosy night in beside the fireplace when the temperature has dropped outside but believe it or not, a fireplace is also one of those features that can help sway potential buyers into a sale.
"It really can act as a striking centrepiece around which the home is focussed and as we spend so much of our social time together in these areas of the home, it can hold a high level of importance in the decision-making process.
"It’s the winter equivalent of baking in bread in many respects, evoking images of family time around the fire at the first smell of soot and it’s also one of those features that are falling in number as many choose to block it up and opt for modern methods of heating the home.
"So if you are looking to sell and your home has a fireplace, make the most of it. Particularly at this time of year when it can be dressed with stockings and other Christmas decorations, although it’s sure to bring added appeal throughout the long winter months.”
