SELLING your home can be stressful enough without scorching temperatures throwing a spanner in the works.
But a heatwave can expose problems with your property that might otherwise go unnoticed – and some could be enough to send potential buyers running for the door.
Strong smells from drains, noisy roads and overflowing bins are among the biggest hot-weather turn-offs for house hunters, according to new research.
A survey commissioned by House Buyer Bureau asked UK homebuyers which issues would be most likely to put them off buying a home when viewing it during hot weather.
Sign up for the Money newsletter
Thank you!
Of those surveyed, 30% said strong smells from drains or sewage would turn them off, making it the biggest heatwave-related deterrent.
Almost a quarter said excessive noise when windows are open would put them off, while 17% pointed to bad smells from bins or rubbish nearby.
CUT IT OUT
PM told to ‘act now’ and slash stamp duty to save the housing market
TOUGH SELL
The 7 property nightmares that could cost you up to £50k and how to spot them
Other issues included unbearably hot or stuffy rooms, such as conservatories, and stagnant ponds in the garden.
Chris Hodgkinson, managing director of House Buyer Bureau, said: “Summer is traditionally viewed as a great time to showcase your home, but a heatwave can expose an entirely different set of problems that simply aren’t as noticeable during cooler periods.
“A bad smell from a drain or bin becomes considerably harder to ignore when temperatures soar, while opening the windows to cool a property can suddenly expose buyers to traffic, aircraft or neighbour noise that they might not otherwise have noticed.”
Here are the five biggest heatwave home horrors that could scupper your sale – and what you can do about them.
Smelly drains and sewage
Strong smells from drains or sewage were the biggest concern among buyers, with 30% saying they would be deterred from purchasing a property because of them.
Hot and dry weather can make drain smells more noticeable, and buyers don’t want to live with it – or have to fork out for an expensive drainage problem.
If you have sinks, showers or other drains that aren’t used very often, run some water through them ahead of a viewing to make sure the traps contain water.
You should also clear leaves and other debris from external drains and gullies.
Experts say don’t simply spray air freshener around if the smell keeps coming back.
Persistent odours could indicate an underlying problem, so it may be worth getting a professional to investigate before buyers arrive.
Noisy roads and neighbours
Almost one in four buyers – 24% – said they would be put off by excessive noise from outside when windows are open.
A house might seem perfectly peaceful when everything is shut, but during a heatwave buyers are much more likely to want windows open.
That could suddenly make traffic, trains, aircraft or noisy neighbours far more noticeable.
Where possible, sellers could arrange viewings for quieter periods of the day and create airflow by opening windows on the quieter side of the property.
It’s also worth checking that any double glazing and ventilation you already have are working properly, as this could reduce the need to leave every window wide open.
Smelly bins
Bins can get particularly smelly when temperatures soar, and 17% of buyers said bad odours from rubbish would deter them from buying a home.
It could create a poor first impression before viewers have even made it through the front door, particularly if your bins are close to the entrance or garden.
Make sure lids shut properly and give wheelie bins a clean ahead of viewings.
Keeping them out of direct sunlight where possible can also help stop rubbish heating up and becoming even smellier.
Any particularly unpleasant waste should be securely bagged and loose rubbish around the bins should be cleared away.
Flat owners experiencing problems with communal bin stores should raise them with their managing agent.
An unbearably hot house
Around 9% of buyers said they would be put off by a home that felt unbearably hot or stuffy.
Some properties are particularly prone to overheating, including top-floor flats, loft conversions and rooms that get lots of direct sunlight.
Consider opening windows first thing, then, as the day heats up, shut curtains or blinds on windows exposed to direct sunlight to stop rooms getting even hotter.
Fans can help circulate air, while keeping windows closed if it is significantly hotter outside than inside can actually prevent additional heat entering your home.
A stagnant or smelly pond
Almost one in 10 – 9% – of buyers said a stagnant or smelly pond or water feature is a turn-off.
A well-kept pond can make a garden more attractive, but hot weather can quickly highlight one that has been neglected.
Stagnant water, algae, bad smells and increased insect activity could turn what should be a selling point into a problem.
Clear out dead leaves and excess organic debris and check that any pumps or filters are working properly.
You may also need to top up ponds during long dry spells where appropriate.
Other heatwave turn-offs
The research found that artificial grass becoming excessively hot would deter 7% of buyers.
Meanwhile, 2% said an unbearably hot conservatory would put them off and the same proportion said they would be deterred by a garden that offered no shade.
Mr Hodgkinson said sellers should try to experience their property from a buyer’s point of view before a viewing.
He added: “You may have stopped noticing the bins at the bottom of the garden or become accustomed to the road outside, but a buyer walking through the door won’t have.
“Many of these issues can be improved with some relatively straightforward preparation and, particularly during periods of very hot weather, it’s worth putting that extra effort in before viewings take place.”
