The Biggest Factors that Reduce Property Value

Coastal and sea front property

If you are looking to sell your home, or if you own a number of properties, then you’ll want to make sure that your sale price matches your valuation. With that said, there are a number of factors that might affect this.

Underpinning

Subsidence can be scary if you’re a homeowner. There’s no doubt that properties that have structural issues often suffer drops in value too. With that said, underpinning can be a good way to fix that. Purchasing a property that has been underpinned shouldn’t be a problem, but some people find that they are put off if the property has experienced property issues in the past. If you intend to flip a property, and you know that it has been underpinned in the past, or if you intend on underpinning it, then you need to take into account the fact that this can influence your property value moving forward. If you want to get the biggest chance of being able to sell your home, then hiring a real estate agent is usually a good idea. Harper Macleod LLP is a great choice if you need a starting point.

Smoking Indoors

Another thing that may end up impacting the value of your properties would be smoking indoors. Smoking inside your home could devalue it up to 29%, according to estimates. This is a huge amount of money, and it’s easy to see how devastating this can be for your property. Cigarette smoke can stain your walls as well as your window frames, furniture, and walls. It can also leave a lingering smell, which can be hard to get rid of. Cigarette smoke can put buyers off as soon as they walk in the door, so if you have tenants who are staying in your properties, it may be worth setting some ground rules about smoking indoors. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it’s easier to stop your home from depreciating over time.

Swimming Pools

Whether a swimming pool devalues your home will probably come down to the way that your buyers view it. The sight of a swimming pool on a hot day may end up peaking buyer interest. This is especially the case if no other properties in the area have a pool. If you have a swimming pool and intend on selling the house in January, however, then this can be seen as an expense, and you may also find that it is a time-consuming amenity that they have to deal with. It also costs money every day to keep your pool running properly and clean, and this can be a real turn-off for buyers. If you want to help yourself here, then you need to make sure that you are not overextending yourself when investing in your properties, and that you avoid things like swimming pools if you can. By doing this, you will find it easier to get the result you want out of your property investment, and you may also find that it is easier for you to make a profit overall.

Extension

Extensions can be a source of dispute, especially between neighbors. Even if you have a neighbor, and they have been granted planning permission for a big extension, it can still be off-putting for buyers. It may be that the home ends up blocking a lot of sunlight or that it ends up being an eyesore. This can be the case even if they have been given planning permission. If you can keep things like this in mind then it will help you a lot when selling your properties and it will also make it easier to get the result you want in terms of the general property market.

Lack of Appeal

Another major issue would be the lack of appeal. As a buyer, there is nothing more disappointing than showing up for a viewing and then seeing that the property has simply not been cared for. It’s a huge turn-off and one you should try and avoid if possible. You need to try and clear the rubbish outside your home and you also need to deal with peeling woodwork if you can. It’s not likely at all that your buyer will want to pay full price for a home that needs a lot of work, so try and keep this in mind if you can.

Poor Decor

Another issue would be poor decor. Poor decor is a major turn-off because even though you may love the nostalgic look of having an orange carpet or bright wallpaper, it’s not for everyone. Even though decorative changes do not often break the bank, you do need to make sure that you take into account your decor style and the way that things work together. Make sure that you always account for your style but be accommodating to your buyers too. If you have several properties then it is always a good idea for you to try and account for things like this as it will, over the space of a short space of time, make a drastic difference.

Your Neighbour’s Property

Even if you have the nicest property on the street, if your neighbor’s home doesn’t match it, it’s probably going to affect your property value. Of course, there’s not much you can do about your neighbors, but there are things you can do to try and spruce up your property. If you are out mowing your lawn or pruning your hedges then it may be worth doing the same for your neighbor as well. You will be boosting your property value as a result of this and there is a good chance that your neighbour will be grateful as well.

Poor Schools

If you live in an area that has several poor schools then this will also bring down your property value. If you tend to buy family homes then you may find that it’s often small families who buy them, and schools are a big deal to this demographic. If you want to help yourself here then one thing you can do is try and make the effort to buy properties near good schools if you can. If you do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to sell your homes and that you end up generating more interest too, so be sure to keep that in mind.

Poor Energy Efficiency

Another big issue that could be bringing down your property value would be poor energy efficiency. A lot of people place energy efficiency quite high on their wish list, so if your home has single-glazed windows then you should probably do something about this. You need to make sure that you aren’t driving down your property value without realizing it and you also need to make sure that you take note of your home’s EPC rating too. If you can do this then you may find that you end up with a gateway to boost your home’s value.

So as you can see, it’s very easy for you to boost the value of your home and if you follow this guide, you will find it is easier than ever for you to not only get the result you want. If you are selling multiple properties then following the above guide will probably make a big difference to you and the money you’re able to make, so be sure to keep that in mind. If you want to make it easier to sell the properties you have then hiring a real estate agent is always a good idea. When you hire one, you will be able to make more money and sell your homes faster.

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Ten years on: More first-time buyers moving to cities while the coast stands still

New ten-year analysis of the property market shows that more first-time buyers are looking to move to cities, while the coast has seen no growth in new buyers First-time buyer demand to move to Great Britain’s 50 largest cities (excluding London) is up by 16% on average over the last ten years, with Dundee topping…
Read More
Breaking News

Homeowners in England and Wales overvalue their properties by an average of 16%

Homeowners in England and Wales are overestimating the value of their property by an average of 16%, according to new figures. Data from Quick Move Now compares homeowner estimates with formal estate agent valuations and is broken down by both region and property type. Overall, homeowners overvalue in every single category.   Regional breakdown Region…
Read More
Visual blemishes on Roads due to service upgrades
Estate Agent Talk

Emergency Sidewalk Repairs: When to Act and Who to Call

Sidewalks are the unsung heroes of city infrastructure—quietly assisting tens of millions of footsteps every day. But when they crack, disintegrate, or shift all of sudden, they might quickly turn out to be volatile liabilities. In a town like New York, in which pedestrian site visitors are constant and belongings proprietors are legally chargeable for…
Read More
Breaking News

Reapit report reveals agents’ long-term market confidence amid legislative challenges

Despite the significant challenges posed by a shifting economic landscape and the largest wave of housing legislation in decades, estate and letting agents remain steadfast in their confidence about their long-term future in the industry. According to the first Reapit Property Outlook Report 2025, covering the full breadth of sales and lettings agency opinion countrywide,…
Read More
Breaking News

Owner-Occupiers Drive Resilient Commercial Property Market

Buying Becomes 37% Cheaper Than Renting The latest Commercial Property Demand Index from specialist property finance expert, Rangewell, reveals that while investor appetite across the sector held steady in Q2, strong levels of owner-occupied commercial mortgage activity are helping drive market performance, as business owners increasingly move from renting to buying their long-term premises for…
Read More
Breaking News

One year of Labour: Property market performance review

Investors left waiting for planning reform and incentives but majority plan to increase real estate allocation   Biggest failures: Lack of incentives for developers and investors, and ineffective planning reform Top priorities: Planning reform, tax incentives, and attracting international capital Where opportunities lie: Data centres, warehousing & logistics, and later-life housing Real estate debt is…
Read More