The five noise complaints most likely to deter homebuyers
The latest research from House Buyer Bureau has revealed that excessive environmental noise can be one of the biggest obstacles when selling a home, reducing the pool of potential buyers and increasing the likelihood that sellers will have to cut their asking price in order to secure a sale.
House Buyer Bureau analysed published valuation evidence on the impact of environmental noise on residential property values, alongside sold house price data across some of Britain’s noisiest postcode districts, to understand both how different sources of noise can influence buyer demand and the financial impact they can have on a property’s eventual sale price.
Whilst every buyer has their own priorities, environmental noise is widely recognised as a factor that can deter prospective purchasers. The fewer buyers willing to consider a property, the longer it can take to sell and the greater the pressure on sellers to negotiate on price in order to secure a buyer.
House Buyer Bureau’s analysis shows that homes beneath busy airport flight paths face the greatest potential impact, with published valuation evidence suggesting values can be reduced by between 10% and 20%. Based on the current average UK house price, this equates to an average reduction of £40,694.
Properties located within 200 metres of a motorway could see values reduced by around £27,130, whilst commercial or industrial noise carries an estimated impact of £20,347. Homes bordering railway lines face an estimated reduction of £17,634, whilst properties situated on busy A-roads could see values reduced by around £13,565.
Further analysis by House Buyer Bureau also highlights how these discounts are reflected across some of Britain’s noisiest postcode districts.
Road traffic noise has the greatest impact in Nottingham’s NG1 postcode, where average environmental noise levels reach 72 decibels. Homes sell for an average of £145,463, some £45,343 (27%) below the wider Nottingham average.
In Leeds’ LS1 postcode, where road traffic noise averages 71 decibels, homes command prices 14.3% (£33,014) below the wider Leeds market, whilst Derby’s DE1 postcode, also heavily affected by road traffic noise at 72 decibels, sees average values 13% (£25,022) lower than the wider city average.
Aircraft noise also carries a notable price penalty. Properties within Birmingham’s B26 postcode, which sits beneath the flight path serving Birmingham Airport and records environmental noise levels of around 75 decibels, sell for an average of 11.6% (£31,229) below the wider Birmingham and Solihull market.
Similarly, homes within Luton’s LU2 postcode, heavily influenced by operations at London Luton Airport and recording average environmental noise levels of 74 decibels, command prices 6.3% (£21,490) below the wider surrounding local authority average.
Managing Director of House Buyer Bureau, Chris Hodgkinson, commented:
“Noise is one of those issues that homeowners often stop noticing because they’ve lived with it for years. Buyers, however, experience it for the very first time during a viewing and that first impression can have a huge influence on whether they proceed.
Whether it’s constant traffic outside the front door, trains passing throughout the day or aircraft overhead every few minutes, excessive noise immediately narrows the pool of buyers willing to consider a property. Fewer buyers means less competition, longer selling times and, ultimately, greater pressure to negotiate on price.
In today’s market, where buyers already have more choice and are taking longer to make decisions, anything that reduces demand for your home can make achieving a sale considerably more difficult.
Whilst exceptional locations can sometimes offset the impact of environmental noise, many sellers simply don’t have that advantage. If your property is proving difficult to sell because of factors outside your control, waiting for the perfect buyer isn’t always the best option, which is why many homeowners instead choose the certainty of a professional quick sale platform, a guaranteed cash sale and the ability to move on without months of uncertainty.”
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