Where is Your Property Losing the Most Value?

With reduced stamp duty rates and low-interest mortgages, the housing market is booming. So, how easily can you increase the value of your property or a prospective purchase?

Here are some key points that your readers may find of interest:

• Re-turfing your garden and adding a shed can see a massive increase in house price of £46,873, a return on investment of 6754%. If you are going to re-turf your garden, you might want to consider a synthetic turf installation.
• Damp and mould is incredibly off-putting for buyers, so properly treating it can result in regaining up to £45,067 of the average household’s value.
• Ensure your house is clean for viewings – dirty and messy rooms knock 3.4% (£8,000) off the value of your property, while a deep clean costs just £238.
• Consider redecorating your property before selling – unpopular interior taste can reduce your house’s value by 10% (£23,783).

November 2020: Specialist damp treatment experts Allerton Damp Proofing have analysed eight reasons why houses lose significant worth, to evaluate the fixes that can add a large amount of value to a property, especially those with a high return on investment. View the full piece here.

Clean up and recuperate £7,762 in property value

Messy rooms can reduce the value of a property by 3.4% (£8,000) for the average household.  A cluttered, dirty house fails to provide a clean slate to viewers, so they can’t imagine their furniture and family in the property, resulting in this price drop. Floordrobes and dirty rooms also suggest a lack of maintenance and care. When selling, take the time to clean and tidy, or hire a deep cleaning service if you’re tight on time – you could regain £7,762 in value after expenses.

Unpopular interior tastes aren’t just sore on the eyes

Out-there interior stylings have a massive hit on property value, knocking 10% (£23,783) off the average household price. While you may want to keep your styling touches up until the sale, most people will need to redecorate the home, so will factor that money and time spent into an offer. Viewers might also be reluctant to buy the property as a more neutral house helps people imagine themselves living there.

The fix for this isn’t too expensive, however. Professional painting and decorating of a three-bedroom house maxes out at around £3,100 – a small price to pay for a 10% increase in property value. Select pale neutral colours to amplify the size of each room and to brighten naturally dark rooms.

Visible vermin control is visibly off-putting, but the cheapest fix

If vermin control is out when people are viewing a property, most buyers will run for the hills. A fair buyer could reduce the asking price by £4,500 – the cost of rewiring a house if rats have gnawed through the electrics. However, this issue has the cheapest cost to fix on the list.

Instead of littering the front yard and garage of a property with mouse traps, hire a pest control specialist to deal with the problem. Day rates are just £200 if the infestation is severe, while most jobs should take no more than three hours. Regaining a value of £4,300 after that expense (and a much better quality of life) make this fix a no-brainer.

Damp and mould can knock 20% off the value of a property, but the treatment can be cheaper than you think

One of the most visible signals that a house needs work is mould and damp on the walls. The health danger and poor maintenance indications that mould gives results in a considerable loss of 20% (£47,566.80) when trying to sell a property. However, proper treatment can cost below £2,500 for the average three-bedroom property, resulting in a recuperation of £45,067.

Joe Trivett, Marketing Manager at Allerton Damp Proofing, has this to say: “Mould and damp don’t always point to as severe an issue with a property as people often assume. Sometimes the problem can be due to a few loose roof tiles resulting in a leak.

“However, more severe issues, such as cracks in walls or established timber rot resulting from an untreated leak can cause the costs to pile up.

“Whether you’re looking to sell or not, address any damp/mould as quickly as possible, to reduce the chances of any severe issues unfolding. If you’re buying a building that contains mould or damp, have a property survey carried out, which should ensure no unforeseen costs accompany your new home.”

Avoid a property with Japanese knotweed

If you’re looking to purchase a fixer-upper, avoid any property with Japanese knotweed. This invasive plant burrows into the foundations of buildings, affecting structural stability, and costs £10,000 to repair – the highest cost fix on this list.

This weed can not only have a significant impact on value, knocking 10% off but can also permanently reduce the price of the building if its roots are deep enough. Therefore Japanese knotweed could be the only issue on this list where the value of the fix isn’t recuperated.

If you are concerned that you may have a Japanese knotweed infestation, get it treated promptly, as it can grow up to 10cm per day. Furthermore, there is legislation ensuring that you must disclose this issue if you are selling the property, as mortgage lenders may be hesitant to support the sale.

Regain 20% (£47,567) of your property’s value for just £694

With a cost of just £694 for re-turfing and building a shed in your garden, you can see a return of 6754%, recuperating £46,873. Fresh, healthy grass adds kerb appeal to your house, while 82% of property experts and estate agents agree that a shed adds the most value to your property.

David Truby, Spokesperson for Greensleeves Lawn Care, has this to say: “A well-manicured lawn is a key factor in the kerb appeal of your house. This time of year, we see plenty of gardens that are waterlogged and muddy – more akin to Glastonbury than a front lawn.

“Even though we’re heading into colder months, potential buyers will imagine themselves in the garden in the summer, and this will factor into any offers they make. Take the time to maintain your lawn well in advance of any viewings – a quality garden doesn’t grow overnight.

“I’m not surprised that a poorly kept garden can lose 20% of the value of your house – the level of care you put into the outside of your property makes a decisive first impression for buyers. In fact, 58% of potential buyers can be turned away by an unkempt front garden.

“At this time of year, scarify, aerate, and regularly rake leaves from your lawn for grass that’ll last through winter. View our lawn care schedule for the best practises of each month heading towards the end of the year.”

About Allerton Damp Proofing

Allerton Damp Proofing are qualified damp proofing specialists serving areas of Yorkshire including Leeds, York, Hull and Sheffield. With more than 35 years of experience, they specialise in property surveys, basement conversion proofing and timber joinery and preservation, as well as mould and damp treatment/proofing.

            As members of the Property Care Association, all surveyors and technicians have the suitable qualifications and skills needed to take good care of your home. Allerton Damp Proofing is certified by the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme, Trustmark and Which? Trusted Trader, ensuring your damp and wood treatments are in safe hands.