Brown&Co
Selling your home: Does its name matter?
Fri 03 Nov 2023
Does the name of your house really matter?
The housing market is showing small signs of improvement despite continued challenges. The Bank of England has left interest rates unchanged, at 5.25%, for the second time in a row.
Meanwhile, the Nationwide has reported a monthly average house price increase of 0.9%, but still a decline year-on-year of 3.3%.
Our Residential teams across offices are certainly not seeing a shortage of supply, with good new instructions being listed across price ranges, particularly at the top end.
However, as the current buyer's market continues, we are sometimes asked by vendors whether the name of their property really matters in terms of securing a sale? Also, does it add value?
While it's fair to say we haven't valued a home more simply because of its name, it does seem that some names attract more interest than others.
Many names originate from words used historically to describe a distinguishing feature; 'The Millhouse,' 'The Chapel', 'The Bakery.'
Other names like 'The Manor' were used by the affluent Georgian gentry who wanted people to understand their wealth and status by matching a grand sounding name to their opulent homes and lifestyles.
6, Market Place, Loddon, for sale for a guide price of £975,000 with our Norwich office, is as appealing as its name sounds.
6, Market Place, Loddon
When selling a house, names incorporating 'Manor', 'Vicarage', 'Rectory', 'Stables' or 'Farmhouse' all give an immediate impression of what the property may be like to people before viewing.
Also, a name that's more fanciful or romantic-sounding like 'Rose' or 'Ivy Cottage' have a certain appeal.
Homes with these kinds of names usually live up to expectations; are period with original features, or converted from original buildings, in pretty surroundings such as a village or a countryside setting.
North Green, East Drayton, Retford; a beautiful name to match this property for sale for an asking price of £795,000 with our Retford office.
Often a name is connected with several different properties on a country estate which is why you may see a 'Hall,' 'Lodge,' 'Cottage,' 'Gate House', 'Dairy,' 'Barn,' 'Forge' etc all with the same prefix.
Beautiful name, beautiful property; Graywood, Castle Rising; for sale for a guide price of £1.895million with our King's Lynn office.
You often find more property names in the country because of the lack of streets and numbers as in a city or town. Or, people like to give their home a name because it gives it a sense of uniqueness and individuality.
Mid Farm House, Lissington, for sale for a guide price of £699,950 with our Lincoln office. Names including farmhouse or Farm House are popular with potential buyers.
Equally, some names may not be as appealing but it doesn't mean they won't sell.
These types of names tend to be associated with more personal aspects to someone's life; acronyms of the people who live there, perhaps, or a holiday location that means something special to the current owners but won't to new buyers.
However, we do not think serious buyers would be put off a property just because of its name as it is possible to change it.
We would never advise clients to change a name to try and sell a house - but it's interesting what different names mean to different people.
For more information please contact our Residential teams in our offices in Norwich, Holt, King's Lynn, Retford and Lincoln. To see the contact details, please visit our branch information here.
FAQs, Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I change the name of my home?
To make a change, you may have to apply to your local council for permission as they are the statutory body for the naming and numbering of properties.
Their approach to doing this may vary depending where you live; some local authorities do require you to apply to make a change, others do not.
If a property in the local neighbourhood already has the same name that you have chosen, or if it sounds similar, you may not be able to use the house name because it could cause confusion to the post office, emergency personnel or council workers.
Is the name part of my postal address?
Naming and numbering is generally the responsibility of local authorities and not Royal Mail. The postal address reflects the details provided by the local authority.
Where a house is numbered by the local authority and has also been given a name by the occupant, Royal Mail will include only the number in the postal address.
This is because the use of the number rather than a name enables the property to be located easily.
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