White doors offer key to property sales

Monday, 03, Mar 2008 10:24

Those looking for a quick sale in the moderation UK housing market should paint the door of their property white, according to new research from Co-operative Bank Mortgages.

With prices falling in some areas - according to, among others, Nationwide - sellers are increasingly looking for new ways to make their homes more attractive to buyers.

And one way homeowners could improve their chances of a sale may be to change the colour of the front door of their property.

According to the research, some 29 per cent of buyers would prefer to see a property with a white front door.

This was followed by red, which was chosen by 20 per cent of buyers, and the 16 per cent tempted by blue.

At the bottom of the popularity stakes was pink, with over a third of people (35 per cent) admitting this coloured door would actually completely put them off making an offer on a property.

The findings also highlight that, once inside the house, house-hunters are most likely to be put off by the smell - with 39 per cent citing this a the main reason to avoid a purchase.

Dampness tops the list of worst smells (26 per cent) followed by tobacco (25 per cent) and drains (19 per cent).

In contrast, buyers are likely to be attracted by the smell of fresh bread (24 per cent), fresh flowers (13 per cent) and clean washing (11 per cent).

"Although moving home can be a stressful time for people, the research shows there are many small changes people can make, which can really enhance the appeal of their property," said John Barker, head of mortgages for the Co-operative Bank.

"However, we would also encourage home movers to look beyond the purely cosmetic details of a property and do as much research as possible to ensure they make themselves aware of the various information sources available and get the best property for their needs and budget.

"Becoming more informed about the options available should lead to healthier finances in the longer term," he concluded.