Inside Britain's Most Wanted Properties: How We Choose Our Prize Homes

Winning the top prize in a house competition can feel like a dream come true. A home of your own and mortgage free, with no chains, stamp duty or other legal fees. And, no endlessly scrolling through Rightmove listings!

Just one life changing moment where you receive the keys to your dream home.

But while thousands of hopeful entrants imagine themselves stepping through the door of a prize property, not many ask the question: how did this house get chosen?

At Raffle House, we know that selecting a prize home is far more complex than simply picking the biggest or most expensive property available. Behind every prize draw is a meticulous process involving property scouts, legal teams, market data, and a deep understanding of what you truly want. Sometimes, a home that looks perfect on paper is rejected straightaway.

So what really makes a prize property “perfect”? We’ve decided to let you in on the secret to our prize home success.

Every prize home starts its journey long before tickets go on sale. Our team is constantly on the lookout for potential properties, sourcing homes through a mix of direct homeowner approaches, trusted estate agents, developers, and off-market options that have yet to reach public listings.

However, just because a property is luxurious, expensive, or designed by an award winning architect, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s suitable for a house draw. Prize homes have to resonate with a wide audience, not just impress industry professionals.

Before a property ever reaches the shortlist, it must pass a set of criteria. These are the foundations of every successful prize home, and the reasons many properties are ruled out in the early stages of a search.

Location consistently tops the list of what entrants value most. While preferences vary, certain options are more appealing than others. For example, popular locations across the UK include coastal towns, sprawling countryside with good transport links, and the outskirts of major cities such as London.

We know that accessibility is essential to many of you, so it's important that our chosen properties find the balance between being an escape and being isolated.

Prize homes need to be ready for winners to move in, so if something is a renovation project, or looks tired and out dated then it won't make the cut. It’s worth saying that ultra modern can be as much of a turn-off as beautiful historic buildings. We’ve found that an attractive facade, anything from Grade II or a New England cladding can be popular, however, the internal finish of a property needs to be contemporary and sympathetic to the age of the building. How we live today, open plan, living and working alongside family, and hosting friends, are all fundamental to the appeal of the property and whether people can imagine themselves living there.

While less glamorous, legal checks are vitally important. Clear title, correct planning permissions, and straightforward occupancy arrangements are essential, as any complications here can completely derail the competition.

One of the most surprising aspects of the selection process is how many beautiful homes are rejected. There are obvious reasons why some are rejected, but the issues with others can be more subtle.

Highly personalised homes are one of the most common rejection categories as they can limit broad appeal for our customers. That could be anything from ‘drenching’ rooms floor to ceiling with bold, alternative colours, to out of date floral furnishing and dark wood furniture.

Some luxury features sound appealing but can put off potential entrants. For example extensive grounds require high maintenance and indoor pools typically come with large running costs.

While entrants may admire these features in theory, they don't always translate into ticket sales.

Homes with awkward layouts, limited natural light, or spaces that don’t photograph well often struggle to make the cut. Not only can they put off potential entrants, but they can be harder for us to market.

While no two prize homes are exactly the same, the properties that we select tend to share recognisable features.

The most popular prize homes appear luxurious without feeling unattainable, such as our countryside mansion in Chichester or our Wiltshire Manor House.

Certain features that often stand out include:

We rely heavily on entrant behaviour, feedback, and data to shape future selections, this helps us ensure that the houses we choose are going to resonate with our audience.

We've found that high luxury isn't always the most important factor for entrants, instead they opt for good locations and properties that offer flexibility. As we also offer a cash alternative, if the 'perfect' property is in the wrong location, winners have the option to choose to have the prize money hit their bank account so they can spend it how they wish.

Even the perfect home can fall flat if it isn’t presented correctly.

Natural light, camera angles, and flow all play a role in how a property is perceived. Some homes have the wow factor on camera, and they come alive when they're photographed or videoed. With spaces that appear warm and inviting, it’s easy for our entrants to imagine living in them.

The perfect home is not just about value, size, or postcode, it’s a blend of location, flexibility, and an emotional draw that allows entrants to imagine themselves living there. A home that feels aspirational yet attainable. Luxurious but liveable. A place where thousands of people can picture themselves starting the next chapter of their lives.

Behind every prize home is a process shaped by expertise, data, and years of experience.

You can either purchase your tickets online as a single purchase, a subscription, or by free postal entry. Those who choose the free entry option, their individual tickets have just as much of a chance of winning as those who purchase a subscription or ticket bundles, just be sure to get your entry in before the closing date.

View important information on our subscription here.

We pride ourselves in helping you do good while you dream big, and that's why we donate a portion of the entry to a charity of your choosing.

Get further details about our charity partners.

Once the property is yours, our prize winners can do what they like with it. Live in it, rent it or a combination of the two are viable options. You can also just select to take the cash alternative instead, for ultimate flexibility.

Could you be our next winner?