From north-facing living to clever storage: What Canberra buyers really want

What features does the perfect Canberra home actually need?

It has to work a little harder than most. It has frosty winter mornings, hot summer afternoons and everything in between to contend with, not to mention Canberrans who want to work, entertain and live well under one roof.

However, local agents say some of the features that matter most aren’t necessarily the ones that make the biggest impression in listing photos.

$1,825,000+

14 Walter Hood Lane, Red Hill ACT 2603

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For Hive Property Director Josh Morrissey, it starts with something much more fundamental: aspect.

“It’s a small detail, but it has a huge impact on the home’s liveability, thermal performance and the optimisation of its design,” he says. “Given that Canberra is cold for four months of the year, orientation is a critical element in enhancing both the comfort and value of a home.”

Stone Real Estate Gungahlin principal Jess Smith agrees, pointing to north-facing living areas, double glazing and effective window coverings as features that can make a noticeable difference throughout Canberra’s distinct seasons.

Many of the city’s best-designed homes embrace these principles through passive solar design, carefully positioned glazing and outdoor spaces that make the most of winter sun while providing shade during the warmer months.

Of course, buyers still appreciate a little wow factor. Smith says homes that blur the line between indoors and out consistently create an immediate reaction, particularly when large sliding doors extend the kitchen and living areas to a covered al fresco area.

This is the case at one of Smith’s current on-market properties, 30 Grenfell Avenue, Taylor, which boasts an easy transition between indoor and outdoor living.

$1,500,000+

30 Grenfell Avenue, Taylor ACT 2913

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Due to our weather, however, making that outdoor space usable beyond a perfect spring afternoon requires a little more thought.

“A usable alf resco area should be covered, protected from the wind and include good lighting, heating or ceiling fans,” Smith says.

Grenfell Avenue puts that advice into practice, with a sheltered outdoor entertaining zone designed to be enjoyed across the seasons, whether it’s a summer barbecue with friends or a cosy winter gathering close to the kitchen.

Working from home has added another consideration, although Morrissey says that doesn’t necessarily mean every Canberra home needs a dedicated office.

“Advances in technology mean most people are happy to create a simple, functional study space rather than requiring a dedicated home office,” he says.

Instead, Morrissey sees value in usable internal space that can be adapted into “rumpus rooms, games rooms, gyms, theatres or other flexible spaces” depending on how people spend their time at home.

Flexible layouts remain highly sought after, with buyers gravitating towards homes that offer multiple spaces in which to work, study or retreat, along with living areas that can evolve as family needs change.

Then there are the decidedly less glamorous essentials. Smith nominates good storage as one of those details that “makes an enormous difference to everyday living”, pointing to linen cupboards, walk-in pantries, built-in wardrobes and garage storage as particularly useful.

Because if there’s one thing a Canberra home definitely needs, it’s somewhere to stash all those big coats and bulky woollen blankets.