If you’re thinking of putting your house on the market, you may want to have a read of GoCompare’s ‘Top 20 property turn-offs’ before letting potential buyers take a look around.
From the nice-to-haves to the absolute deal-breakers, find out how to make your home buyer-friendly.
20) You may think it’s how your property looks on the inside that matters most, but when first impressions count, it’s just as important to consider the exterior. 31% of people surveyed by GoCompare Home Insurance said that they would be put off by stone cladding, render or pebble dash on exterior walls.
19) A cold house that’s expensive to run isn’t going to appeal to anyone. 37% of respondents said that they wouldn’t want to buy a house with an old boiler or central heating system.
18) You can’t choose your neighbours, unfortunately, which may be an issue for those of you who have students living nearby. 37% of us say that we wouldn’t want to buy a home if there are students renting the property next door.
17) Most of us will do everything we can to get our homes in tip-top shape before putting it on the market. If your DIY skills aren’t up to scratch however, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. 38% of us are put off bad DIY jobs.
16) 39% of us don’t want to live in a house with a small kitchen. If possible, consider opening the kitchen up into your living room. Open-plan living is very popular at the moment and it will make your kitchen feel much bigger.
15) Small rooms are a turn-off for 40% of us. Unless you’re happy to knock walls down and turn two small bedrooms into one bigger one, a simple de-clutter and coming up with clever storage solutions can help. Buying a bed with drawers inside it is one great example of adding storage without compromising on space.
14) 43% of buyers would be put off a home if it was close to a major road or motorway. If you’re worried about external noise, window shutters act as a great sound barrier and can help to keep unwanted noise at bay.
13) 43% of us are put off by a dilapidated neighbouring property.
12) Poor natural light and dark rooms are a turn-off for 43% of us. Again, window shutters installed by a reputable shutter company such as Purely Shutters can really help with this issue. By adjusting the slats, you can let in as much light as you like without compromising on privacy.
11) If you can’t afford to spend much on renovating your house, make your electrics a priority. 46% of people say they’re put off a home with outdated electrics and wiring.
10) Nearly half of us (46%) are turned off by a dirty house. Start with a thorough de-clutter and then get those marigolds out and get scrubbing. If you don’t have the time (or inclination) to do it yourself, hire a professional cleaning company to do it for you.
9) Back to the neighbours again – 48% of us don’t want to see rubbish strewn in neighbouring gardens. If it’s really an issue, try having a friendly word with your neighbours and explain that you have viewings coming up. You may even have to lend a helping hand but it will help to sell your property faster.
8) 51% of us are put off a property that’s not connected to mains gas.
7) 52% of us don’t want a house without a garden. If you have any outside space at all such as a balcony or roof terrace, make it look great so you can really sell on this.
6) if you have any unfinished building work, now is the time to get it done. 53% of buyers don’t want to see half-finished jobs when looking at houses.
5) With our smart phones firmly attached to us at all times, it comes as no surprise that 53% of us don’t want to buy a house in a broadband black-spot.
4) No parking would put off 56% of potential buyers.
3) 59% of us don’t want to see a property in a poor state of repair. This may include rotten window frames and peeling paintwork.
2) If there’s a bad smell lingering around your home, it’s time to address it. 63% of us are put off bad smells including damp, food, cigarettes and pets.
1) Our number one turn-off when looking for a new house to buy is damp stains on walls and ceilings. With 69% of us saying this would stop us buying a home, if there’s only one issue you can afford to fix, make sure it’s this.
Speaking about getting your home ready for potential buyers, Ben Wilson, a spokesperson for GoCompare’s home insurance commented:
‘Buying a home is a major investment and most people are put off by outdated properties or those in a poor state of repair. While dated décor can be remedied easily and relatively cheaply, major flaws from poor maintenance or badly botched DIY can be expensive to put right. In particular, if a property shows evidence of damp – whether it’s a stain or mouldy smell – it’s a warning sign which, depending on the cause, could be costly to repair.’
[disclosure*]