According to the latest research from Gocompare.com Mortgages, dodgy home repairs, tiny rooms and poor lighting are just some of the things that would send a prospective buyer running for the hills - but what is the biggest turn off?
The survey conducted by Gocompare found that damp was the biggest area of concern for house-hunters with 71% of those asked saying that evidence of damp patches on walls or ceilings would put a stop to them buying a property. 65% said they would avoid homes that had been poorly maintained. Odious odours were also cited as deal breakers with 61% saying that bad smells from pets, damp or cigarette smoke would turn-them off a property.
Matt Sanders, mortgages spokesperson for Gocompare.com said, “Moving home is a big undertaking for sellers who want to attract the best price for their property and buyers who, in the main, want well maintained properties. Our survey suggests that many homebuyers want a home that’s ready to move into and are put off by properties requiring repairs or maintenance work. Damp is a particular area of concern - a musty smell, black mould, stained ceilings or crumbling plasterwork are all warning signs of problems which, depending on the cause, can be costly to remedy. Interestingly, while many buyers are put off by poor maintenance and bad DIY, only a quarter would shy away from properties which have outdated kitchens or bathrooms – two of the most expensive rooms in a home to update.
Our survey also revealed that many buyers are simply put off by grubby, cluttered homes with out-of-control gardens. When viewing a property, buyers try to imagine themselves living there - which may be hard to envisage if the kitchen has a grimy sink full of washing-up or if they have to step over dirty clothes strewn over the bedroom floor. So if you’re thinking of selling your house, one of the easiest and most cost effective things you can do is clean and tidy your home – both inside and out – before putting it on the market.”
