Home buyers give festive bling a frosty reception
Christmas light fanatics should avoid decorating the outside of their homes if they want to sell up over the festive period.
When questioned in the summer of 2006, Christmas lights came 8th in the rankings of what was most likely to put you off buying a home. However, house exteriors that are over-enthusiastically decked in Christmas decorations have rocketed to number three in December's survey of home buyers' pet hates.
There are some perennial eyesores, the prospect of which fill buyers with apprehension all year round. Broken down vehicles and rubbish in front of homes have remained top of the list overall, the survey concluded. However, there is a clear indication that seasonal factors come into play in repelling potential buyers. Back in the summer ubiquitous World Cup flags proved a real turn off to buyers. Now December has come around they have been replaced by Christmas bling, equally off-putting to buyers.
Visual factors most likely to put off buyers
Rank
1. Broken down vehicles/old furniture
2. Rubbish in front of the house
3. Over-enthusiastic Christmas lighting/decoration
4. Caravan
5. National sporting flags
6. Pebbledash/stone cladding
7. Unkempt garden
8. Peeling paintwork/poor state of repair
9. Garden gnomes
10. Election material
Wealthier households with incomes over £60,000 were twice as likely to be put off by Christmas decorations as households with incomes under £30,000. Warren Bright, Chief Executive Officer of propertyfinder.com commented:
Christmas and the New Year is a notoriously difficult time to sell as people like to be settled over the festive period. Sellers will have to be extra careful not to alienate the buyers who are still out there and over the top decorations are sure to put a lot of people off.
People want to see an unadorned house and imagine themselves in it. That means bold personal statements like these must be avoided.
Does your cul de sac suffer from Christmas congestion? Comment below if your area is 'bling'.
