Buyers tend to use their nose before their brain

New research has shown that potential buyers are missing out on bargains by losing enthusiasm for a property if it doesn’t seem pristine.

When any of us visit a new home, one of the first things we always notice is the smell. Different people live in different ways and this can seriously affect a home’s appeal to a potential buyer. New research released by Principality Building Society has found that 54% of buyers would ignore a property if there’s a hint of a bad smell.

This is perhaps unsurprising – the sense of smell is one of the strongest tools for regressing memories in the human mind, so it only makes sense (pardon the pun) that certain smells have a negative stigma associated with them, for many people. There are also smells that can never be removed without extensive levels of remodelling and new flooring – animal urine being a prime example.

Interestingly enough, the survey of over 2,000 people also found that 30% of those questioned would be dissuaded from buying a property if the walls were dirty, and 25% if the carpets had been sullied.

In a world where daytime television is awash with programmes about DIY and house-purchasing, it is staggering that the majority of people are not able to look past the grime and see potential, rather than pollution.

“With so many first time buyers hopeful to get on the housing ladder, as a nation we need to look past the decorative issues a house might have and see its true potential,” said Julie-Ann Haines, customer director at Principality Building Society.

“First-time buyers shouldn’t worry about carpet stains or bad smells which can be easily cleaned or removed at an affordable price, but see beyond the décor which might not be to your taste anyway. After all, our own personal touches are really what make our house a home.”

For many vendors, a strange smell can stretch out the selling process for an unacceptable length of time, but luckily house buying companies are willing to buy any house for cash at competitive prices, especially if the owner is looking for a fast house sale.

Worried that your house is unsellable? Why not ask National Homebuyers for advice, as we buy any house. Call 08000 443 911 or request a call back to find out how much you could get for your property.