5 Items in your Property that might put off Buyers

A home is a home and it is certainly up to you how you wish to enjoy it and what items you want around you though when it comes to selling we sometimes have to consider the feelings of our potential buyers right? From minimalistic to hoarding, property can contain all sorts when it comes to opening them up to the general public during the period they are on the market – What should we consider to have on show or not when viewings take place:

  • Pets: We certainly have a tendency to love our pets here in England and many times these cute additions to the family can be quite appealing and give added warmth to a property. What about those somewhat less common pets such as reptiles or even theraphosidaes (e.g. tarantulas). Comparing a puppy which most people will be attracted to against a snake which most people would be afraid of could effect the overall impression people get from viewing your property.
  • Taxidermy: Better known as the art of preserving an animal’s body via mounting or stuffing, taxidermy items can not only be a put off item, but can also cause offence. From fish to life size, fully stuffed black bears, this subject is quite vast in what can be collected. Though there are many collectors and prices are quite high for varied pieces, most people will dislike this subject and might even refuse taking things further with the seller who favours such decor. In the UK, any taxidermist wishing to sell a protected item must be registered with DEFRA and/or APHA, and obtain an Article 10 Licence (A10) to sell any item falling into the current perimeters of the law for that specimen.
  • Risqué: From erotic oil paintings to nude photos, yes these are frequently on show in properties, risqué items can certainly be a put off when viewing property and cause embarrassment to include the viewer wanting to end the tour of your property ASAP! Have you any naughty magazines or DVD’s laying about the place?!
  • DIY items: If you are in the midst of decorating to renovation works on your property it is best not to leave too many items of evidence around so to cause any suspicion. From pots of paint to plumbing tools, why leave these laying around as people might think that you’ve quickly been temporary fixing any visible issues.
  • Politics: Tension remains high, as it usually does, in regards to politics. Though the person viewing your property may in fact totally support the political views you have, not everyone will and opposites in this subject certainly do not attract. Think about keeping your place a politically free zone especially during campaigning times, a vote Labour / Conservative etc poster in the front garden could set things off in a negative way before your potential buyers sets foot on your property.

Title image credit Pixabay

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Damaged timber from Dry Rot
Estate Agent Talk

Mould and damp – what you need to know ahead of winter

With the winter months just round the corner, problems with damp and mould can become far more prominent. Autumntime is when many people turn on central heating systems and choose to close windows, preventing fresh air ventilation needed to allow damp air to leave a property. Unfortunately, the combination of warm and damp air can…
Read More
Breaking News

Rental price and average salary tracker – September 2025

London and South East see biggest dips in required rental salary year-on-year London and the South East saw the sharpest dips year-on-year in the average salary needed in order to rent the average home in that area. London saw a 4.2% drop, whilst the South East saw a decline of 2.9%. Yorkshire and Humberside saw…
Read More
buying at auction uk
Breaking News

The cities where buying beats renting – with just a 5% deposit

British first-time buyer mortgage payments are typically 17% cheaper than renting, even with a low 5% deposit The average 5% deposit is £11,412 based on a typical first-time buyer property price of £228,233 Among major cities outside London, the biggest gap between owning and renting is in Glasgow, where buyers could save more than £4,750…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s Weekly Mortgage Rates Tracker

Average rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Average rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 4.51% +0.00% -0.37% 5-year fixed 4.55% +0.01% +0.01%   Lowest rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Lowest rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 3.77% +0.05% -0.07% 5-year fixed 3.97% +0.10% +0.29%   Average…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Data and commentary from Rightmove on stamp duty reforms

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert said: “We’ve been calling for stamp duty reform for some time now, as it’s a significant barrier for many people moving home. Abolishing it completely would remove one of the biggest barriers to moving, unlocking more moves at all stages of the property ladder. “Our data shows that only 5%…
Read More
Breaking News

Second-time buyers dominate demand for longer term fixed mortgage deals

Second-time buyers are dominating demand for longer term fixed mortgage deals, fresh data from Moneyfacts Analyser can reveal. Of those looking for fixed term deals on moneyfactscompare.co.uk: Almost two-thirds (58%) of second-time buyers who compared mortgage deals using the moneyfactscompare.co.uk website were considering terms of three years or longer in the 30 days to 1…
Read More