Safe Speed Forums

(Thu 10 Nov 05)

A survey of UK estate agents reveals that an unsightly car parked next door can knock thousands off your house price. It's likely to wipe an averge of 5.5% - equivalent to £10,170 - off the the average UK house price of £184,924.

The results, compiled by Network Q, also shows that a banger doesn't have to be parked next door to affect your house price - it can knock 4% off the value of nearby residential properties. Even worse, if you are the owner of the car in question, estate agents say it may prevent many buyers from even looking at your house, and knock off 8% of the true value.

Network Q also asked 1600 UK homeowners about their views on seeing an old banger when viewing a neighbouring house. 35% would refuse to even bid in the first place and another 37% would place a lower bid because of it.

The estate agents revealed that one client hid his car and borrowed a friend's newer car to help make a sale. Smart homes neighbouring a teenage repair fanatic couldn't be sold, while one house had five old cars parked in the driveway and had its value reduced by 25%. Caravans and mobile homes also contribute to lowering the value of surrounding houses.

'A person with a poorly maintained or shabby car can give off all the wrong signals to someone looking at their home or a neighbouring property," said Network Q's Richard Hughes. "It also goes to show that sometimes a quick and easy sale is sometimes out of your own hands.

"If your car is on its last legs, upgrade to a newer model and you'll not only improve your driving pleasure, but as these findings prove, have the peace of mind that you'll save yourself a fortune when it comes to selling your house."

With me, it's caravans or white builder's vans in the drive next door or in the road outside that kill the interest.

I wouldn't be put off by the type of car - only if it had FLUFFY DICE hanging in the window,

Why are we even giving air time to this? Network Q sell cars, people are keeping cars longer because their houses are worth less money and they do not feel rich, not the other way round.

We not going to be neighbours then Ernest?

I'm sure that yours will be classic fluffy dice, and therefore not objectionable.