They are the 20 words that could sell your home.
Latest research has revealed the most searched home features on realestate.com.au, giving sellers a unique insight into what buyers want.
Outdoor living is top of the wishlist in Queensland, with ‘swimming pool’ and ‘shed’ top ranked.
But increasingly, preferences were influenced by rising unaffordability, with ‘dual living’ and ‘granny flat’ both featured in the top 10.
The data reflects emerging trends as well as perennially popular features with homehunters on Australia’s leading online property platform in 2023.
Swimming pool was also the most-searched keyword across the nation, retaining its position from 2022.
The backyard shed moved up in popularity from number four the previous year, followed by ‘duplex’ and ‘dual living’ as buyers explored higher density and multigenerational solutions.
Keywords rounding out the top 10 were: waterfront, garage, granny flat, air conditioning, beach, and view.
PropTrack economist Anne Flaherty said the features most coveted had shifted through the pandemic, with home offices and entertaining spaces in vogue.
In 2024, housing affordability would increasingly impact buyer preferences.
“We are going to see keywords like ‘dual living’ continue to be very popular and this is a direct result of the housing crisis that we’re in. It is very expensive to rent and also to buy and we have already started seeing average household sizes increase,” Ms Flaherty said.
“Multigenerational living is likely to become more common, children are staying at home longer and families are thinking about what is the optimal living solution to allow everyone to live together but also have their own space.”
Both families and investors sought duplex pairs and granny flats, either to split living costs, provide care for older relatives, or live in one side of the property while drawing rental income from the home.
In Queensland, buyers would continue to seek a pool and proximity to the water in order to make the most of the coastal climate, Ms Flaherty said.
LJ Hooker Solutions agent Emma Ashton said keywords, “play a pivotal role in expediting the sale of a home by effectively targeting potential buyers while gaining maximum visibility”.
“In an increased digital age where buyers rely heavily on online searches, the strategic use of keywords ensures that buyers can easily see the properties that meet their needs,” Ms Ashton said.
“Heightened visibility not only accelerates the selling process but creates competition among buyers, potentially driving up offers.
“By harnessing the power of keywords, real estate agents can streamline marketing efforts and generate greater interest.”
Gold Coast homeowner Justin Biggs said he aimed to, “create our own oasis in the backyard” after purchasing a house and land package at Pimpama in 2016.
“We purchased one of the first blocks of land on the street as first-home buyers and Pimpama was an up-and-coming suburb,” Mr Biggs said.
“I built the house and then sold some of my toys and that paid for the pool, because living on the Gold Coast a pool is essential. It means you don’t always have to drive to the beach on the weekend and the kids use it all year round.”
Construction worker Mr Biggs and his wife Shelly have three sons, Caleb, 20, Jaxon, 15, and Nixon, 6, and are selling the house with plans to upgrade to a larger property in Ormeau.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 55 Woodrose Cct is marketed by Ms Ashton.
Burpengary East homeowners Lauren and Ross Jewell paid $2.1m for their property and said the epic pool with dual waterslides and a swim-up bar was “the deciding factor” in their October 2022 purchase.
Features include two 3m-high twisting slides along with a jumping platform from a stone wall into a 2m-deep heated pool, and a swim-up bar equipped with nine drinks fridges.
“It is a beautiful home but the pool area sets it apart from anything else,” Ms Jewell said.
“Having a pool is really all about the kids, but in saying that, probably just as many adults have raced down the slides and it has brought the neighbourhood together for fun and good times.”
The couple has two daughters, Emilia, 13, and Rylee, 3, and undertook renovations including upgrading the outdoor entertaining area before relisting the property with plans to build an equally incredible waterpark at their next home.
The Portobello Rd home on a 3,111 sqm elevated lot was marketed by Paige Creedon, of Creedon Property Group, and under contract within days.
Listing keywords including “outdoor entertainment area”, “heated pool”, “granny flat”, “air conditioning”, and “garage” drew intense buyer interest, Ms Creedon said.
TOP 20 KEYWORD SEARCHES QLD
2023
swimming pool
shed
duplex
dual living
waterfront
garage
granny flat
air conditioning
beach
view
mortgagee
ensuite
study
views
beachfront
balcony
canal
pet friendly
ocean view
courtyard
2022
swimming pool
duplex
waterfront
shed
garage
dual living
granny flat
air conditioning
beach
view
mortgagee
pet friendly
courtyard
beachfront
ensuite
views
study
balcony
outdoor area
ocean view
* source: PropTrack
Source: realestate.com.au