Three property features that will devalue your home by 20% and 'make buyers run away'

Homeowners aiming to sell their property are naturally looking to secure the highest possible price, but certain unexpected home features could be diminishing your home's value. You'll never tick every box on everyone's list when you're selling a property, but it's important to appeal to the masses - think about reducing the hassle factor for potential buyers and focus on the smaller jobs that make a big impact.

Hammonds Furniture has identified aspects of a house that might slash up to 20% - or an average of 59,330 off its market value, given the average house price currently sits at £237,318, according to the Halifax House Price Index. Kirsty Oakes, head of product and marketing at Hammonds Furniture, said: "We all have something in mind when we begin a search for our next home, but there are certain features that for many people could be an absolute dealbreaker. However, some of these features are surprisingly quick and simple to amend if you are looking to sell your house."

1. Ugly wallpaper

Research conducted by Hammonds Furniture found that a quarter of people would be put off from buying a home, or reduce the size of their offer, if it had what they thought of as "ugly" wallpaper.

While you could certainly strip the wallpaper yourself and redecorate to your liking, this revelation was quite surprising.

So, if you're planning to sell your property, it might be worth considering removing any contentious wallpaper and opting for neutral hues instead.

2. Pebbledash

Pebbledash, a trend that peaked in the 1920s, can be a practical addition to a home as it shields the structure from harsh weather and is incredibly durable.

However, at least a quarter of people simply "aren't fans of its aesthetic and will make potential buyers run away". Eliminating pebbledash can be challenging, but it can be plastered over.

If you're selling, a fresh coat of paint on the pebbledash can help mask its appearance, making it more appealing to a wider range of buyers - just stick to spray paint, as rollers and brushes struggle to do the job effectively.

3. Bathrooms lacking a bath

As the name indicates, a bathroom is usually centred around a bathtub, and traditional bathrooms will still feature a freestanding bath as a focal point.

Despite the fact that most people no longer take morning and evening baths, the bathtub is still widely regarded as a symbol of the bathroom. And one that many people will always be unwilling to be without, at least for occasional use when the mood strikes.

Given that nearly a third of people would feel the same about a weak shower, it's clear that bathing facilities are a significant factor for buyers.