Biggest property put-offs revealed by homebuyers
Biggest property put-offs could see homebuyers offer £40k less or more – From flying flags to aggressive dog breeds
The latest research from Springbok Properties has revealed the biggest property put-offs that could see buyers offer as much as £40,000 less, if not more, leaving many sellers struggling to achieve their asking price in the current market.
Springbok Properties surveyed over 1,000 UK homebuyers to uncover the biggest property put-offs that are likely to deter a buyer both when it comes to the property itself and the surrounding area.
The research found that three quarters of buyers would walk away from a home completely if it had a major turn-off.
Of the remaining respondents, 17% said they would still make an offer but at a reduced price.
One in five would cut their offer by up to 15%, which on the average UK house price of £269,079 equates to £40,361 less, whilst a whopping 57% would reduce their offer by more than 15%.
Property-related put-offs
In terms of issues found within the property itself, signs of damp or mould ranked 1st as the most common deal-breaker.
Very small rooms or a poor layout came 2nd, followed by a lack of natural light in 3rd. Strong odours such as pets, smoke or cooking ranked 4th, while a poorly converted garage or loft was 5th.
An outdated kitchen or bathroom ranked 6th, badly maintained gardens or outdoor space 7th, and unusual flooring choices such as carpet in bathrooms 8th.
The final places in the top 10 were taken by taxidermy or unusual collections on display in 9th, and overly themed décor, such as sports team colours or novelty wallpaper, in 10th. To summarise,
Property-related put-offs (Top 10)
Signs of damp or mould – the most common deal-breaker.
Very small rooms or a poor layout – a close second.
Lack of natural light – ranked third.
Strong odours – such as pets, smoke, or cooking smells.
Poorly converted garage or loft – viewed as a liability.
Outdated kitchen or bathroom – costly to modernise.
Badly maintained gardens or outdoor space – lowers appeal.
Unusual flooring choices – for example, carpet in bathrooms.
Taxidermy or unusual collections on display – unsettling for many buyers.
Overly themed décor – sports team colours or novelty wallpaper.
External deterrents
When it comes to external factors relating to the surrounding area, high crime rates ranked 1st, followed by noisy neighbours in 2nd.
A lack of parking or contested street parking came 3rd, with busy roads and traffic noise ranked 4th, neighbours with large or aggressive pets 5th, and homes positioned under flight paths or near railway lines 6th.
Poorly maintained neighbouring properties were ranked 7th, strong political or religious signage such as placards, murals or banners came 8th, too many short-lets or Airbnbs on the same street ranked 9th.
Whilst the political debate around raising flags may be raging, the excess flying of flags – regardless of which flag it is – completes the top 10 biggest put offs for potential buyers. To summarise,
External deterrents (Top 10)
High crime rates – the top external turn-off.
Noisy neighbours – second most off-putting.
Lack of parking or contested street parking.
Busy roads and traffic noise.
Neighbours with large or aggressive pets.
Homes under flight paths or near railway lines.
Poorly maintained neighbouring properties.
Strong political or religious signage – placards, murals, or banners.
Too many short-lets or Airbnbs on the same street.
Excess flying of flags – regardless of which flag it is.
Shepherd Ncube, CEO of Springbok Properties, commented:
“Selling a home can be a minefield due to buyer preferences and the chances are your home will boast one, if not more features that could deter a buyer and make it hard for you to sell.
While some factors can be addressed with a relatively quick fix, others can pose a far more significant obstacle, requiring time, effort and money to rectify. That’s if they are within your control, of course, but unfortunately there are many deterring factors that simply can’t be remedied.
That’s why it’s vital for sellers to understand how these factors could affect their sale, particularly in a market where buyer demand is muted and homes are taking a very long time to sell – especially at higher price bands.
It’s no surprise that with the market treading water at present, many sellers are turning to quicker, more certain sale routes, such as auctions or quick sale platforms like Springbok Properties, in order to make their move”
You May Also Enjoy
Why 2026 is the Best Year to Invest in Dominican Republic Land
Property expert on how to bag the BEST mortgage deal in today’s market
Halloween Named the UK’s Most Popular Moving Day of 2025
Industry Response to Halifax House Price Index
Halifax House Price Index December 2025
