It's all white for house hunters

With the recent slowdown in the housing market, new research by Co-operative Bank Mortgages has revealed, that if you are looking to sell your house quickly the most appealing colour to paint your door is white.

The research shows that almost a third of people (29%) prefer white front doors, whilst a fifth favoured red (20%) and one in six would be tempted by blue (16%). At the bottom of the popularity stakes was pink, with over a third of people (35%) admitting a pink 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 (39%). Dampness tops the list of worst smells (26%) followed by tobacco (25%) and drains (19%).

Therefore for home movers keen to sell their property, it is worth noting that fresh bread (24%), fresh flowers (13%) and clean washing (11%) are the top three aromas that are most likely to tempt buyers.

But whilst many superficial features such as door colouring and a home’s aroma can be easily modified, the research also highlights some key ‘must-haves’ that people look for in a new property.

Topping the list of ‘must-haves’ is a garden, with three quarters of people (74%) unwilling to even consider a property without one. Almost a third of people also consider a large kitchen (29%), and a garage (28%) to be the crucial deciding factors in their property search.

John Barker, Head of Mortgages for the Co-operative Bank comments, “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.“

“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.”

The Co-operative Bank has a website, co-operativebank.co.uk/movinghome, which provides help and advice for home movers. It contains the latest information and links on everything to do with moving house – from mortgage rates and legal advice to finding a local removal firm.

Most desired front door colours

1. White
2. Red
3. Blue
4. Green
5. Brown

Least desired front door colours

1. Pink
2. Orange
3. Yellow
4. Purple
5. Grey