What makes a place a home? The qualities homebuyers seek constantly change with time and can widely differ across individuals.

Home hunting in the bygone era was relatively straightforward compared to now. Today’s sophisticated homebuyers have a much longer list of “needs” and “wants”. House-hunting for one’s dream home can be exciting and also overwhelming all at once. With so many options, it’s tough to choose.

What are the things homebuyers of today look for? While the number of rooms, the condition of the kitchen, the size of the yard and more are important factors, what are the overarching considerations people want?

Malaysiakini conducted some street interviews to find out. See the video here.

We found three predominant overarching considerations – security, community, and a conducive environment. This is unsurprising, of course, as since time immemorial, humans have yearned for, and thrived when these are met – a pleasant environment, security to raise one’s young, and a sense of community.

Our respondents cited security as a priority, which is as expected, given that the sense of safety is a fundamental human need. We will always seek a safe environment to live in, more so when we have children to raise. 

Gated and guarded developments have mushroomed over the past decade to cater to this basic human need. 

Not all such communities are the same though. One of our respondents lamented the lack of CCTVs in his current place and another said her development has only one guard and they never know if he was doing his job or not. On the other hand, one respondent said he has the “peace of heart” knowing that the security guards vet visitors and he would be informed before any of his turned up at his door. “You know who’s visiting and that makes you feel at ease.” Yet another praised the security of an EcoWorld development when he visited a friend there. 

We found that most the interviewees prefer to live in a community. Human beings are social creatures. Being part of a community can have a positive effect on our mental health and emotional wellbeing. Community involvement provides us the sense of belonging and social connectedness. The converse holds true as well – the lack of community has an adverse impact.

Last, but certainly not the least, homebuyers look for a conducive or pleasant environment. Homebuyers want pleasant surroundings, soothing greenery, the calming and restorative quality of nature… again, more so when they are raising their young.

One respondent said: “A good environment will help you to control stress. Everyone was stressed during the MCO [movement control order]. Working from home was at first enjoyable, but later on, it become stressful because you can’t meet people, and there are things you can’t handle remotely. Environment is one of the factors that can help you reduce stress.”

Having one’s own garden would be nice – be it for gardening or a recreational spot for the children. Many homebuyers prefer a landed property for this purpose. Having one’s own private outdoor spot became even more desirable during the MCO period of being home-bound.

If living in a secure, eco-friendly, wholesome and sustainable community with plenty of amenities is what you’re looking, check out EcoWorld’s people-centric offerings. The EcoWorld brand is about the pursuit of better, greater ways to complete people’s living experience. EcoWorld ticks all boxes for that perfect home.

Take one of EcoWorld’s projects in the Klang Valley, Eco Grandeur, for example.

Eco Grandeur offers 1,400 acres of life-affirming opportunities to create the ideal home, raise a happy family, be part of a thriving community, and enjoy nature’s beautiful bounty.

Greenery covers over 20% of Eco Grandeur, giving ample opportunities for interactive landscaping as well as conservation initiatives. The development is made up of many different garden concepts, each created to suit a different mood or desire. The precincts in Eco Grandeur are gated and guarded with a single entry/exit. The enhanced security is disguised through landscaping and design so that fencing is softened by shrubbery, while the guard house is incorporated into beautiful entrance archways.

Eco Grandeur’s latest innovation, the Regent Garden Co-home, is a hybrid single-floor living concept where you can either purchase an upper floor unit, or a ground floor unit. This product is perfect for those who would like to stay closer with their family while enjoying their own private dwelling.

Regent Garden also has Garden Homes, an innovative concept that allows you to enjoy the best of indoor and outdoor living. Each garden home comes with a 5-foot side garden that can be converted into a recreational spot for your family.

For more information on Eco Grandeur, click here.