When it comes to viewing a property, there’s so much to think about – from costs and affordability to the appeal of various areas.
But, as well as deciphering your priorities, you might also consider what you definitely don’t want in a property, whether that’s nearby road noise or a structural issue that could potentially cost you some serious money down the line.
Now, new research has unveiled the biggest red flags that put Brits off buying a home – and unsurprisingly, mould and damp came out on top.
As per a new survey that assessed 2,001 prospective homebuyers, 49% agreed that this alone would be enough to put them off making an offer.
It’s no surprise either, considering that living in a mouldy home can pose all kinds of health risks, from respiratory problems to allergic reactions.
‘If you have a lung condition, like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), mould can also make your symptoms worse leading to a potentially life-threatening asthma attack or flare up,’ Erika Radford, head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, previously told Metro.co.uk.
‘Damp and mould can also increase your risk of other things that can make your lung condition worse, like chest infections, colds and flu.’
Elsewhere, a noisy area (including neighbours) ranked in second place at 43%, according to Gaffsy’s findings, while 39% agreed that a property being overpriced was enough to curb their interest.
Interestingly though, there were gendered nuances in responses. While the top three red flags for male and female respondents were the same (mould/damp, noisy neighbours/area and high asking price), location (35%) was in fourth place for men.
For women (41%), it was unusual smells – whether a hint of must or something more sinister, like a drain issue.
Don’t book the van just yet – this is officially the best month to move house
If you’re in the process of planning a move and are able to be a little bit of flexible about when, there’s a nifty way that you could save yourself thousands of pounds: by planning your move to coincide with the cheapest month.
Although summer is by far the most popular season for those upping sticks, a recent study has found that statistically, the best time to move house as a renter is actually October.
In fact, the average tenancy contract signed in August is significantly more expensive than those signed in October, with renters who choose the latter shaving an average of 10% off their annual rental bill.
Analysing the prices of over 900,000 tenancies signed for since 2020, lettings platform Goodlord found that the average rent for a property in England drops after a summertime peak.
As such, over the last four years, the average renter who moved in October saved £1,400 per year.
Women also cared more about being on a floodplain at 2 in 5 (41%), and by comparison, just under one third (31%) of men agreed.
On the other end of the spectrum though, Brits didn’t seem to mind a property being listed, as only 7% agreed that this would put them off – and it being on the market for a long time also didn’t seem to matter, at 15%.
So, the next time you find yourself viewing a house, consider looking a little closer at the finer details. It’s better to spot something you don’t like at the first hurdle than end up with any nasty surprises.
The top 20 red flags that put Brits off when viewing a property, according to Gaffsy
- Mould/damp: 49% of Brits agreed that this would put them off purchasing a home
- Noisy neighbours/area: 43%
- Overpriced: 39%
- Location: 38%
- Unusual smells: 37%
- Cracks in the walls or ceiling: 36%
- Home being on a floodplain: 36%
- Signs of pests: 34%
- No driveway or designated parking spaces: 29%
- Unclear access ownership: 24%
- Unclear boundary lines: 24%
- Leasehold: 23%
- Pushy estate agent: 23%
- Single glazing: 22%
- Home being messy: 17%
- Many nearby homes are up for sale: 16%
- Listed property: 15%
- Long time on the market: 15%
- Low asking price: 8%
- Relisted on the market: 7%.
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