If you are planning to sell your home, certain features could be hurting your property value and putting buyers off making an offer. These include ugly wallpaper, pebbledash, and a bathroom without a bath. The housing market is highly competitive, and homeowners naturally want the best possible price. However, some surprising features could quietly reduce your home's value.
You will never tick every box on every buyer's wishlist, but appealing to the widest audience is crucial. Focus on reducing the hassle factor for potential buyers and concentrate on smaller jobs that make the biggest difference. Hammonds Furniture has identified aspects of a property that could wipe up to 20% — or an average of £59,330 — off its market value, based on the current average house price of £298,806, according to the Halifax House Price Index.
Kirsty Oakes, head of product and marketing at Hammonds Furniture, said: "We all have something in mind when we begin a search for our next home, but there are certain features that for many people could be an absolute dealbreaker. However, some of these features are surprisingly quick and simple to amend if you are looking to sell your house."
Ugly Wallpaper
Research by Hammonds Furniture revealed that a quarter of people would be deterred from purchasing a home, or would lower their offer, if it featured what they considered "ugly" wallpaper. While you could strip the wallpaper yourself and redecorate to your taste, this finding was quite surprising. If you are planning to put your property on the market, it may be worth stripping any divisive wallpaper and opting for neutral tones instead.
Pebbledash
Pebbledash, a trend that reached its height in the 1920s, can serve a useful purpose as it protects the building from severe weather conditions and boasts exceptional longevity. However, at least a quarter of people simply "aren't fans of its aesthetic and will make potential buyers run away." Getting rid of pebbledash can prove tricky, though it can be covered with plaster. If you are putting your property on the market, applying a fresh layer of paint to the pebbledash can help disguise its look, broadening its appeal to prospective buyers. Just ensure you use spray paint, as rollers and brushes are not up to the task.
Bathrooms Without a Bath
As the name suggests, a bathroom typically revolves around a bathtub, with traditional bathrooms still showcasing a freestanding bath as their centrepiece. Despite most people no longer enjoying morning and evening soaks, the bathtub remains firmly established as a key part of the bathroom. Many homeowners will never want to do without it, at least for the odd treat when they fancy it. Considering nearly a third of people would have similar concerns about an inadequate shower, it is evident that bathing amenities are really important to buyers.
