Rightmove etc filters

[Tequilasun]

Just wondering if there are any estate agents like rightmove etc where you can filter your choices. For example, if you really want a cloakroom downstairs, dining room or a conservatory? A lot of house searches focus on how many bedrooms they have but to me downstairs space is more important. Just a thought but think it would be a positive, a bit like how you filter holiday's or clothes shopping online.

All estate agents do this just not online. You need to speak to a few local agencies

Oh I didn't know this. Just looking at the moment not actually ready to move. Although I don't understand why they wouldn't do this online?

I guess it’s to encourage people to view houses rather than filter them out. Eg downstairs loo can be standard in a new build but these houses are often smaller while older houses often have downstairs cupboards or pantries that can be easily converted.

You can filter by some stuff such as whether or not there is a garden, although you're reliant on the estate agent having input the details correctly. I would love to be able to search by overall square footage - a four bed house here could be 1000 square foot through to say 2500. My previous three bed was 1600 square foot, so when looking to move I was only interested in houses that were 2000+.

Because there are dozens of different options - downstairs loo, upstairs utility, side access, walk in wardrobe, eat in kitchen, open plan livingroom, master en suite, separate dining room, fireplace and so on. Any of these could be some ones 'must have', but it relies on agents putting all the details in and they don't. Plus how many times have people compromised on their 'deal breaker'? The biggest are there: area, detached, semi, terrace; bedroom count, garden, parking. There aren't so many properties that you can't spend a little time checking each out those that meet your basic criteria. You may just be willing to compromise on your must haves too.

You can search by keyword on PrimeLocation. I agree filtering would be helpful, I think the Rightmove search filters are way too limited.

It's not in the filter section. However if you run your search as normal, when the results appear you will see a box just above the 'featured property' bit that says 'prioritise properties with... [Add keyword]'.

You can then put in your criteria and any matching properties that include the keyword will go to the top of the results.

Hope that helps a bit.

I think the problem is likely terminology rather than laziness. I call my downstairs loo a downstairs loo, but others call it a shower room, cloakroom, washroom etc. I also have a dining room but at present it’s a gym and would be reflected as such on any plans or listings. Doesn’t mean it’s not a dining room, it’s just not what we use it for or call it. So if you were ticking “must have dining room” you’d miss ours as it doesn’t have a dining room, but it does have a room that WAS a dining room before we lived here and would easily become one again. Online is a blunt instrument unfortunately and can’t really replace speaking to a person who actually knows about the properties they are selling.

I wish you could filter by number of bathrooms. Number of toilets/bathroom is as much of a deal breaker as bedrooms for me, didn't want to put one in, would have really helped with our search.

@EdgeOfACoin - that's a really useful tip. Thank you. Off to google again with 'wraparound garden' keyword.