People in the UK are now tempted by grand interior designs when it comes to buying a new house, with under-floor heating, marble floors and granite work surfaces topping the "high spec" must-have list.

Good schools, a garden and reliable transport links no longer seem enough to satisfy modern homebuyers, as estate agents instead focus on high spec home buzzwords to entice them through the door.

Some 257,000 homes in the UK are now described as having a "high spec interior", according to research by Aviva.

Of these, 63% have under-floor heating while 27% boast of quality finishes such as granite work surfaces and marble flooring.

Ceiling speakers (2%) and luxury fittings such as walk-in wardrobes and built-in entertainment centres (1%) also help to attract homebuyers.

But it's not just the interior that counts, with estate agents now advocating the serene locations of flats and houses for sale, above the proximity to lively bars, cafes and restaurants.

"Ambience" was mentioned in nearly 2% of the five million analysed listings, of which 61% made a point of highlighting the peaceful and tranquil location. In comparison, just 13% mentioned local/country pubs.

Meanwhile, only 300 ambient properties list café culture as a selling point, with 72% of those mentions located in Greater London.

"We all fall in love with properties for different reasons, and while the character and charm of a home is a matter of personal taste, it seems that assets such as smart flooring and on-trend kitchen brands are as important to some buyers as transport links and schools," said Heather Smith, director of home insurance at Aviva.

"And with the pace of life so fast for many of us, it's not surprising that home buyers are looking for a little refuge from their busy working lives and would prefer tranquillity to buzzing bars and local pubs."

She warned that homebuyers should make sure they can afford to maintain the perfect home once they find it. If not, it could come back to bite them.

James Mackenzie, head of Strutt & Parker's Country Department, believes high tech fittings will become 'the norm' in the next few years. He said: "We are seeing a clear trend towards house buyers requesting ultra-modern fixtures and fittings. Under floor heating, in built control systems and high spec interiors are a must for some buyers, with less people wishing to carry out the work themselves."