Small kitchens putting off house buyers

One-in-four potential house buyers would be put off a property by a small kitchen, a new study has revealed.

A survey by MayfairGranite.co.uk found that kitchen size was a determining factor when purchasing a house among the 1,006 UK residents it polled. This was closely followed by grease, fat stains and mould (20%) and lack of natural light (17%).

In London, more than a third (38%) of respondents said they’d be put off a property because of the size of its kitchen. While a fifth would be put off by a lack of natural light and 18% by grease and fat stains.

When it comes to age, the survey revealed that 18 to 24-year-old first-time buyers were more likely to overlook outdated and badly laid out kitchens if the size was right. Although, they stated they would be more likely to put in a lower offer, with some saying they would offer up to £15,000 lower. However, grease and fat stains were high on their list off turn offs.

Meanwhile, those aged 55 to 64 said they would be most put off by lack of storage and natural light.

Mayfair Granite director Neil Beard said: “From the survey, it’s plain to see that people still regard the kitchen as one of the most important rooms in the house when it comes to buying a property, and in many cases a bad kitchen can put people off making in an offer entirely. In this volatile housing market it is important that home sellers create the right impression to potential buyers.

“Home sellers cannot do anything about the size of their kitchen, but simple things like cleaning the kitchen, removing any clutter and fixing broken fixtures and fittings can make a big difference to potential buyers and can help them achieve an offer on or as close to the asking price as possible.”

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