What is putting buyers off buying your home?
According to regulated property buyers, GoodMove, below are the most searched for issues over the past year.
According to the research, searches for “buy my house” increased by 108% in July 2020, “sell house fast” by 257% in November 2020, and “value my house” by 170% in January 2021, showing many have been looking to move home over the past year.
To be honest, we all knew this, but it is interesting to see data that reflects it too.
People are spending more time at home and looking to Google for help on their next move. Not just that, but peoples views have changed, they want more living space, more outdoor space, and where possible, maybe even office space too.
So, Whilst we know many have moved home in the past year and searched for help on how to sell their homes, I had to ask myself, what puts buyers off when viewing a property?
Well, my North London friends, here is what I found from the report conducted by GoodMove.
Flooding
Nobody wants their home to be flooded, and it’s often a huge concern for buyers when looking at houses. Searches for “check flood risk” increased by 400% in January 2021 – right at the time of Storm Christoph – and if you are looking for a new home it’s advisable to check if it’s near any body of water that could make it susceptible to flooding.
Bad odours
They say the smell of freshly baked bread is the secret to selling a house, and pleasant scents do help entice buyers. Searches for “home odour eliminator” have steadily increased throughout the year, rising month-on-month to 284% in March 2021. If you’re looking to sell your home, we’d advise purchasing some diffusers or candles to banish unpleasant smells such as pet odour.
Mould
Mould is a problem many homes face, and searches for “how to get rid of mould” increased by 152% in October 2020. Luckily, it can be removed with specialised cleaning products, but if you’re looking to buy a new home, we’d advise checking for mould on your viewings and asking the current owners about it, so you don’t get a nasty surprise when you move in.
Old bathrooms/kitchens
Kitchens and bathroom are often one of the first things buyers look for when viewing a property, as they’re often the most expensive thing to update. Interestingly, “new bathroom cost” peaked significantly in summer 2020, rising by 177% in August, while “new kitchen cost” peaked by 53%. We know that interior trends change over time, but for sellers, we’d recommend keeping bathrooms and kitchens clean and neutral. Don’t opt for any bold colours and stick to a more neutral colour palette to attract a wider range of buyers.
Supporting further, GoodMove also conducted a survey asking people for the most shocking things they’ve seen during a house viewing. According to the findings, the top five problems are:
- Bad smells e.g., damp/animals and cigarettes (36%)
- Dirty/damaged carpets and flooring (27%)
- Bad DIY e.g., dents in walls/smashed windows which owners attempted to cover up (23%)
- Animal faeces on the floor/furnishings (17%)
- Pubic hair on the floor/furnishings (11%)
So, if you are wanting to sell your North West London property, make sure to avoid any of the above if you want to attract buyers to your home!
Contact me today and see how I can help you with your home and move.
Liana Loporto-Browne MNAEA President.
020 8265 5028
