While it may not seem significant, ensuring gardens look neat and tidy and keeping the bathroom clean can impact the price of a property, according to analysis from House Buyer Bureau.
The property purchasing specialists looked at what deters homebuyers when they view a property, the percentage impact certain deterrents could have on the property’s asking price and what this equates to in monetary terms on the current UK house price of £285,861.
Surprisingly, the biggest deterrent for homebuyers was a property with an overgrown garden. This can knock off a whopping 14 percent from a home’s value which equates to a huge £40,306.
Since the pandemic, green space has been a huge selling point for homebuyers so it’s perhaps not surprising that prospective buyers view an overgrown garden as a deterrent.
Another factor which could affect the value of a property by more than £11,000 or four percent is having an untidy, messy or dirty home.
When picturing themselves in a property, buyers don’t want to imagine a home full of clutter or covered in stains and dust so it’s important sellers ensure their properties are kept clean and tidy while conducting viewings.
Similarly, people don’t want to spend their first few months in a new property masking the smell of a pet.
While most people love cats and dogs, showing evidence of a pet in a property could be detrimental to its value, particularly if the pet has caused noticeable damage.
Evidence of a pet alone can cut over £11,000 from a property’s value, or 3.9 percent. A dirty bathroom and kitchen can also knock the value of a property by a massive £10,000.
Lighting is deemed important when it comes to choosing a home. A dimly lit home can affect the value by 3.1 percent which equates to £9,000. When there are viewings, ensure the property is well-lit and each room is illuminated.
Outdated decor could knock £9,000 off the value of a property. While some buyers can see past garish wallpaper, bright colours and swirly carpets, many buyers can’t and will offer sellers less.
With energy bills still soaring, it’s never been more important to have double glazing in a property which can add £8,500 or three percent to a home’s value.
If windows are broken or outdated, this is likely to leave a negative impression on buyers so these need to be replaced as soon as possible before selling. Failing to do so could see buyers knock you for the cost of the upgrade.
A new front door can add up to £4,000 to a home’s value. This means having a shabby front door could have the opposite effect and knock 1.6 percent off the value of a home.
Managing director of House Buyer Bureau, Chris Hodgkinson, said there’s “little excuse” for sellers not to sort out any of the above issues before buyers view a property.
He said: “It’s surprising how many seemingly minor features can detract from a home’s value, like having a messy garden or failing to clean up the kitchen.
“Given the huge sums of money involved, there’s little excuse not to get any such issues sorted before potential buyers come to visit.
“First impressions and emotional decisions are huge parts of buying a house, so make sure buyers aren’t put off by the small things.
“The current environment of rising interest rates means we’re no longer in a sellers’ market, so you need to pull out all the stops to achieve your target price when marketing homes today.”