A few tips to keep in mind when buying and selling

THERE are a few things you should keep in mind to help you when you are buying and selling a property.

Some experts have said that things such as DIY disasters and messy bedrooms could knock around £10,000 off the price tag of an average home in the UK.

An overgrown and messy garden could reduce the value of a property by as much as 20%.

However, adding an off-road parking space could boost a property’s value by up to 20% and replacing an old bathroom could add £2,500 more to the selling price.

The online services marketplace, Bark.com, teamed up with 20 estate and lettings agents, interior decorators, plumbers and gardeners to discover what the top turn-offs for potential buyers are.

Here are the top buyer bugbears they found:

■ 1. Evidence of pets – Even though around 45% of people in the UK own a pet of some kind, potential buyers tend to not be as keen on them when viewing a property.

Concerns over cleanliness such as pet hairs on the furniture and the smell of pets from litter trays, cages and baskets could devalue a house by more than £11,000.

■ 2. Illegal improvements – For many, it may come as a surprise that some people have made renovations to their homes without the proper planning permission.

However this can cause big problems when it comes to selling the property and could even make your home be viewed as untouchable by potential buyers.

■ 3. Dodgy decor – Even if the potential buyers plan to redecorate if they move in, many of them will still judge the property by its appearance.

You may love bright colours, elaborate carpet patterns and detailed wallpaper with flowers, birds or animals on it, but there’s a chance they might not.

Often this sort of decoration can become too distracting and many potential buyers won’t be able to see the rooms as they really are.

Some simple decorating in plain colours will combat this, otherwise be prepared to receive some lower offers.

■ 4. Overgrown gardens – Many potential buyers won’t even consider viewing inside a house if they don’t like what they see on the outside.

Even if they do choose to book a viewing, they could ask for a 20% discount for a messy garden.

It pays to mow those lawns and weed those borders when a house is up for sale.

■ 5. Swimming pools – In warmer climates swimming pools are expected and typically used throughout the year. In cool climates, however, pools often mean money down the drain.

So while a pool might add value in Palm Springs, it doesn’t do so in the UK because it’s likely to be unusable for much of the year and just end up looking dirty and unloved with dead leaves floating in it.

The UK’s unpredictable weather means temporary alternatives like padding pools are the usual thing, or smaller and warmer options like a hot tub – and even those are seasonal.

If you instead have a permanent pool in the back garden, it will reduce the appeal of your property, the experts said.

■ 6. House numbers – Superstition can have a major influence on house prices. If you live at Number 13, you should consider changing your house number to a name. In some places, they don’t even use the number 13 on homes or building floors.

Research conducted by Zoopla found that homes at unlucky number 13 could be worth £3,900 less than neighbouring properties.

■ 7. Poor energy efficiency – Spending on energy efficiency will not only save you money on your bills, it will insulate your home against loss of value when you decide to put it on the market.

Double-glazing is the most obvious visual sign of an energy-efficient home – and UPVC windows will look much better than wooden frames with flaking paintwork. Otherwise you can expect a potential buyer to at least deduct the cost of having new windows fitted once they move in.

However, solar panels are apparently not seen as appealing, so you’ll need to put buyers’ minds at rest over how they work, how safe they are, etc.

■ 8. Outdated fixtures and fittings – Buying a property is already a big investment, so many buyers won’t want to immediately spend additional funds on installing a new kitchen or bathroom.

That avocado suite might have to