If you're looking to buy, what would put you off the most?

[WhoNose88]

Neither buying nor selling for a year or two, but I'm looking around to keep an eye on things and idly curious about what would put other people off.

For me, it would be a garden with no plants (just decking or paving, or that horrible astroturf stuff) or a house with only a shower, no bath (the kids love their baths!).

What are things that would put you off?

Busy road
Open plan living (I like to cook spicy food but don't necessarily want to smell like it)
Main bathroom downstairs
Garden too big or too small
No hallway
Most other things are cosmetic and I would probably want to make changes anyway.

No garden or small garden
Dark living room
Only bathroom upstairs
Stairs in living room
Small kitchen
No garage

i agree paved over garden or astro turf i rather have a teaming jungle at least then i have a blank canvas

lets think other things of note

near a river
neighbors homes or gardens looking abysmal poor maintained or neglected
weird places for bathroom(for example only one downstairs)
high traffic road
small kitchen
no gas just electric

o yes another of note being next door to a fast food or takeaway their rubbish attracts rats

Only 2 insurmountable issues I can think of that are quite common ones: 1) No amenities in cycling/walking distance, and 2) Busy road & ground or first floor property, especially if via busy road was the only access

Most the things listed by others could be changed, or accommodated. Could rent a garage elsewhere, add light to a dark room, be clever with kitchen space, build walls to do away with open plan, rip out the astroturf, fix the DIY or remove the mould. Top of a tall building on a busy road might be quiet enough. But you can't change the noise & pollution from a busy road that is < 50' from your bed.

Anything cosmetic like garden, kitchen, bathroom etc woildnt bother me as long as I had the budget to put it right.

But things I couldn't change,

On a main road
No parking
No downstairs loo or room for one.

I would also be put off, and have been, by a house that's been on the market for a long time. In my experience, when you go and see them, there is always a reason it's been on the market a long time, and I too don't want it. And generally that's the price versus the work needing doing to it. On the market a long time indicates unrealistic sellers.

No driveway.
No dining room.
No downstairs loo as well as bathroom upstairs.
No utility room for washing machine, or bathroom big enough to accommodate it.
Artex anywhere.
Coloured bathroom suites.
Dado rails.
Lack of storage, particularly for coats and shoes.
Unkempt garden.
Damp.

Not much really 😅

Oh and woodchip wallpaper anywhere.

No off street parking
No downstairs loo
Only one bathroom
No rear access
No outside space, but a high maintenance garden would also put me off

No parking
No storage or not enough room to put storage (especially in bedrooms)
Damp
Busy road
If it needs a shedload of work
Smelling of smoke

@niceupthedance totally with you on conservatories 😄

Anywhere there is a history of flooding
Near a busy road
Lack of access to back garden from the rear
Too few cupboards
Open plan downstairs
Lack of anywhere to keep wheelie bins convenient but out of sight
The smell of mushrooms
Barking dogs next door
On a steep hill
Lack of parking
A kitchen at the front - I like the kitchen at the back

Cigarette smoke

Plastic windows.

No parking. I don't care about anything else but I will never again buy a house without a driveway. We're stuck where we are and parking is appalling, causes me serious stress.

Grey window frames.
I know it's possible to change them but I hate waste and couldn't bear to spend a large amount of money on something that works fine but simply looks bad.
Same goes for black gloss worktops and coloured kitchen cupboards.

Beams.
Small windows.
Dark rooms.
Open plan.
Near a school
Next to a park
No off street parking.
Scruffy neighbours houses.

Shared driveways are a nightmare.

I would definitely want a bath.

Storage essential.

One bog
No tube
Low ceilings
Open plan

Busy road
No south facing garden
Our last house the garden was freezing and shaded even when the sun was at its hottest

Scruffy location.
Small kitchen with no room for dining.
No utility room.
Only one proper bathroom.
No downstairs loo.
Overlooked garden.
No parking.
Neighbours too close.
Artex, woodchip wallpaper.
Anything bodged.
Doer upper.

Beeping pedestrian traffic lights right outside the house.

When people say open plan do you mean completely open plan downstairs? What about big 'open plan' kitchen/diner/family room and then separate lounge/utility room/study type layout?

Another for bad neighbours. Stuff like decor, layout, garden, are within my power to change. Awful people next door are not. Unfortunately it's hard to know what the neighbours are like before you move in.

Also new build. I just don't trust them, I've heard too many horror stories, and I think older houses are often better constructed.

No loo on each floor
No bath
A black and white kitchen (I think they look harsh and clinical and would want to rip it straight out).

Oh one other: Expensive car insurance. Location is a top factor in insurance costs, it can matter more than age, experience, or vehicle. I would definitely get quotes for the new place before deciding to move.