Buying and selling a home can be a stressful process at the best of times. But some drawbacks with a property could make potential buyers completely lose interest and sabotage a sale altogether.
Being well prepared always helps, so it’s important to be aware of the aspects of your home that may make it difficult to sell. Your chances of finding a buyer could be boosted if they are tackled effectively and at the right time.
NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) Propertymark has revealed the most common issues that can scupper the sale of a property – to help people feel better prepared…
Nuisance neighbours
Whether it’s a dispute over boundaries, shared access to driveways or anti-social noise, falling out with your neighbour can affect the sale of a property. To avoid the risk of comeback later, honesty is the best policy if you have had a dispute with a neighbour.
Structural problems
If your home has serious structural defects that aren’t visible on first inspection, this can put doubt in the minds of buyers – and their mortgage provider may refuse to lend against the property. If you’re aware of a major structural problem, try to fix it before putting it on the market.
If you can’t afford repairs, get a contractor to provide estimates. You should disclose everything to the buyer and provide the documents on how to remedy the issue.
Japanese knotweed
The invasive plant can damage foundations and significantly devalue your home it if it’s at risk of subsidence as a result. If there is any in your garden, call a professional to excavate it as soon as possible. It can affect your ability to get a mortgage on the property.
Rail timetable changes
If you’re in a commuter town, any changes to timetables making it more difficult to travel to the nearest city could affect the saleability of your property.
Planning permission
If you’ve had any work carried out while 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.
Being on a flight path
If your home is within a flight path, noise is obviously a downside. The impact this has depends on how busy the airport is – and even the type of aircraft. Be honest about how much you can hear and the times ofdisruption.
Parking disputes
If you’re thinking about selling your home and have a parking issue with a neighbour, try to have a friendly word before any viewings. Often simple courtesy will resolve the problem.
School catchment areas
Parents always want to ensure their children get into the right school, so the closeness of your home to popular local schools is a big consideration. Families are usually prepared to pay a higher premium for a property in their chosen school catchment area. But school catchment areas can change, so keep an eye on this so you can be transparent with buyers.
Underlying damp
If damp isn’t taken care of, it can cause major damage to a home. While many cases of damp need simple and inexpensive treatment, in extreme cases the building’s structure may be at risk, resulting in lengthy and costly remedial work. If you’re concerned about damp, a surveyor can help. You may need to factor this into your house price, or if the damage is minimal you can potentially cure it yourself.
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