Five reasons people will not love your home..
As long-standing estate agents we have a pretty good idea what the turn-offs are for people viewing potential new homes. Oddly, viewers are often reluctant to share the real detail on why a property isn’t for them, preferring to be a bit vague, instead.
Now, a really interesting survey has been undertaken by conservatoryland.com, which supports what we think, but can be difficult to explain to vendors. Might one of these be the reason your home is getting a lot of viewings, but no offers?
The survey has revealed that 20% of Brits don’t feel confident that they will be able to see past certain “turn offs” when viewing potential properties. Here are the top five most off-putting things people find when viewing a home:
1 Nasty whiffs
Almost half of those surveyed said odd smells are the biggest turn off when viewing a property to buy. This should come as no surprise – a bad smell could suggest there’s something expensive wrong with the property. But it could be something simple that is easily fixed. You will have seen the advert – it’s easy to become ‘nose-blind’ to certain smells. Do you always have your Friday night curry in the sitting room? Do you need to give your pet’s feeding bowl (and surrounding area) a good clean? Maybe it’s the fridge – a great Camembert can give off a powerful pong! What about your shoes? If your hall cupboard is full of well worn shoes, they might be creating their very own atmosphere. If you think you may be nose-blind, get a super-honest friend, or your friendly local estate agent, round to do a senses test. Next, add some ambience through gently scented diffusers or candles. Take care though – too powerful a scent might make people wonder what you are trying to hide!
2. Cracked floors
Following weird smells, almost a third of Brits (32%) said that cracked tiles in floors were a turn off when viewing a potential home to buy. A crack can look expensive to fix, and while you might have got used to living with it, a new occupant may not feel the same. If you kept any spare tiles – call in the experts and fix the problem. If not, then invest in some ceramic filler and colour and follow the instructions. It’s quite straightforward – you’ll wonder why you lived with the crack for so long!
3. Stained surfaces
The UK’s third-biggest no-no when it comes to viewing new properties – mysterious stains. A little elbow grease will go a long way here. Google how to clean a stain from a wood floor or table – you will need some equipment and materials from a DIY store. On carpets – hire a carpet cleaner or get someone in. Clean carpets will also go a long way towards creating a fresh scent in the home. See point 1!
4. Pet hair
24% of people completing the survey said pet hair was a major turn-off. To remove pet hair, you may need to get very heavy with the vacuum cleaner. You can also use a long-handled squeegee mop, slightly damp – rub it back and forth along carpets where your pets lie or sleep, and it will help lift embedded hairs. Then you can gather them by hand… On soft furnishings, vacuum and then use a lint roller, or even sticky tape, though that is a time-consuming process! For the duration your home is for sale, pop down a rug or a throw on floors and sofas where your pet sits, and hide it away when viewings are planned.
5. Clutter
We’ve talked about clutter before. It might seem odd, but some people just can’t see past personal belongings like photos, certificates or souvenirs. Clutter will also give the impression of a lack of storage space, which nobody loves. Box up the majority and store it somewhere away from the house.
The full study can be found here: www.conservatoryland.com/blog/the-uks-dream-home-must-haves/
(Picture used from Greystoke Avenue, Timperley).
Eddie – Friday 22nd July 2022.
