Yahoo Finance 6 property turn-offs which could stop your house being sold
Hoping to sell your home? Potential buyers may be put off by your improvements but a new list of the six biggest property turn-offs should help identify why your pride and joy isn’t shifting.
You may not be able to do anything about the noisy neighbours or north-facing garden, but you can remedy some of these – or avoid making costly mistakes if you’re planning to make changes to your home.
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Think solar panels are a good idea, for instance? Think again, many people think they’re unsightly. What about your own flair for decoration? Surprising as it may be, not everyone shares your unique taste so it’s an idea to tone things down before displaying your home to a prospective buyer.
The list of the six turn-offs is below but, as Katie Griffin, NAEA Propertymark president advises, it may be time to think again about improvements before putting off potential buyers.
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“It’s important to know what adds value to your home and what might detract from it,” she warns. “Sometimes the improvements you have made might not appeal to buyers, so even though you’ve spent money on them, they might not necessarily add any value.”
Solar panels and kitchen appliances
Solar panels are environmentally-friendly and can save you money on energy bills. But they might not actually add any value to your home. Some people think they’re unsightly and unattractive and don’t want them on the side of their roof. There’s also the problem of technology ageing quickly, and being expensive to upgrade. It means state-of-the-art equipment installed just a few years ago can already be old-fashioned and expensive to replace. The same applies to built-in kitchen appliances, which while great to start with, are usually out-of-date within five years.
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Over personalisation
When decorating your house, you should design it to suit your personal taste. However, if your taste is particularly colourful or bold, it’s might be worth re-decorating before you try and sell your home. Modestly decorated homes are most desirable, as homeowners can easily see how their own belongings would fit into the space, and how they could make it their own home.
Swimming pools
Who doesn’t love a swimming pool? But they’re not a great asset to British homes as our uncertain weather means they may only be great fun for a weekend or two in the summer. Most people fear that they’re expensive to maintain, use up a lot of space, and you can’t actually use them very often. It means many think they’re a lot more fuss than they’re worth.
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Planning permission and building regulations
If you have had any works carried out while you’ve been living in the property, such as extensions or conversions, make sure you obtained appropriate planning permission and building regulations, and have access to these documents. If potential buyers can’t see the paperwork, they will fear problems.
Darkened rooms
If you have two identical properties, and one is bright and airy while the other is dark and dingy, nine times out of ten, the brighter one will be worth more. It’s obvious why: few people favour a dark home. Foliage around windows, and large trees should be cut back before you try and sell your home to give the impression of a light and spacious property.
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Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed is more common than you think – and it can damage the foundations of your home and significantly devalue it if it’s at risk of subsidence as a result. If you see any in your garden, call in a professional to get rid of it as soon as possible.
