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Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Say no to gnomes? New study says the cute lawn ornaments could 'knock £12,000 off price of neighbour's home'
Collecting garden gnomes has become a peculiarly popular British hobby and always provides a treat for passersby. But 'a lawn' filled with the quirky statues might not be as much fun for neighbours – as it can knock £12,000 off the value of their homes. Researchers at Churchill Home Insurance quizzed 500 estate agents across the country to find out the biggest problems caused by neighbouring properties when selling a house. They found that messy front gardens filled with junk or rubbish and decrepit sheds were the number one and number two issues, each knocking £13,000 off the asking price of a property. Excessive use of garden gnomes, statues and ornaments slotted in at third place, causing buyers to lower their bids by £12,000. The study found the average house price in the UK now is £268,000, but that having neighbours who 'lower the tone' could see up to £43,000 wiped off the selling price. There are believed to be around six million garden gnomes across the UK, up from five million in 2020. In Germany, the home of the gnome – where they were invented in the early 19th century and are known as Gartenzwerge (garden dwarfs) – there are between 25 and 30 million gnomes. The eccentric decorations were introduced to Britain in 1847 by renowned gardener Sir Charles Edmund Isham, although popularity dipped severely during the two World Wars. The British love affair with gnomes peaked in the 70s, after manufacturers came up with 'naughty gnomes' including ones dressed as Smurfs, in football strips and daft costumes. In the past five years, however, sales of garden gnomes have soared by around 20 per cent. Alison Taylor, 45, of Tring, Hertfordshire, said she would be put off buying a home next to someone who didn't keep their garden tidy – or had an 'army of gnomes'. She said: 'Obviously a messy garden is an indication of what your new neighbours could be like. 'If you see cars with flat tyres in the driveway and a sofa in the front garden, you're probably not going to put an offer in - or if you do, you'll put in a lower bid. 'Garden gnomes and ornaments are fine, within reason, but if you're talking 20-odd gnomes then it would definitely put me off, but that's because I find them creepy - I'm sure other people might love them.' A spokesman for Churchill said this week: 'We asked 500 estate agents to find out how much unattractive or poorly maintained neighbouring properties can reduce the selling price of a home by. 'We found that it can reduce the price of the average home by £43,000. 'Things like rubbish in the neighbouring front garden, broken windows or excessive garden gnomes or statues are common buyer turn offs and costing sellers thousands in property prices.' The study found that 97 per cent of estate agents had told clients to 'have words' with their neighbours before putting the house on the market in a bid to get them to 'tidy up'. Sarah Khan, Head of Churchill Home Insurance, said: 'Much like family, you cannot choose your neighbours, or who moves in next door. 'Sometimes you get lucky with neighbours and sometimes less so. 'Unfortunately, no matter how well presented your house is, a messy or poorly maintained neighbouring property can have a significant, detrimental impact on your sale price. 'If you find yourself in this situation and it is a cause for concern, it is worth trying to have a chat with your neighbour to see what can be done about it. 'Even a quick tidy up can make a huge difference, it does not have to be expensive but could significantly improve the curb appeal and the price you achieve for your home.' Top neighbourhood no-nos Researchers found the top neighbourhood no-nos, and how much they could cost someone selling a house next-door; 1 - Rubbish and junk in front garden/drive - £13,000 2 - Ramshackle sheds/outbuildings in back garden - £13,000 3 - Excessive use of gnomes, statues, garden ornaments - £12,000 4 - Broken or boarded-up windows - £11,600 5 - Bad DIY jobs - £11,180 6 - Shoddy extensions - £11,180 7 - Broken down cars in front drive - £11,100 8 - Overgrown garden/weeds - £11,000 9 - Pebble dash/bad decor - £10,750 10 - Overflowing gutters - £10,320
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Why a messy neighbour could wipe £43,000 off YOUR home's value?
Poorly maintained or unattractive neighbouring properties knock an average of £43,000, or 16 per cent, off house prices in the nearby vicinity, data seen by This is Money suggests. Rubbish piled up in a front garden, boarded-up windows and towering weeds can all be off-putting for buyers, Churchill Home Insurance said. Poorly executed extensions or DIY, run down or abandoned vehicles in the front drive, an overgrown garden or overflowing gutters can be similarly problematic for sellers. London-based sellers are likely to feel the biggest financial sting from poorly maintained neighbouring properties, the findings suggest. Unsightly neighbouring properties could dent a sale price in London by as much as £89,000. Sellers in the South East of England face the second largest sale price sting from grim neighbouring homes. Poorly maintained neighbouring properties in the South East could wipe over £61,500 off a house price. Across the East of England, inadequately maintained neighbouring homes could knock £54,000 off the selling price. In the West Midlands, where the average property price is around £246,636, the potential loss of value is lower, at £39,462. Sellers in Wales can expect an unkempt property next door to reduce their property price by £33,181. Across Scotland, where average property prices are £185,870, sellers can expect close to £30,000 knocked of the final selling price for their home. In Northern Ireland, where house prices are around £183,259, a property's value can be hit to the tune of £29,321 by shoddy neighbouring homes. The North East of England, where the average cost of home is £160,452, sees the lowest impact from unsightly neighbouring properties. In the North East, sellers can expect to see £25,672 wiped off their selling price if their neighbours are yet to spruce up their property. The research was conducted by Censuswide, comprising views from 500 estate agents. Can I make my neighbour tidy up? Ninety-seven per cent of estate agents encourage conversations with neighbours to help boost property prices in the area, the research found. While problematic homes next door can be an issue, people can have messy or unkempt properties for many reasons. Many won't be down to laziness and it is best not to jump to conclusions if you see overgrown bushes or broken guttering. Some people may be too unwell to keep on top of property maintenance, while for others, the costs involved can be prohibitively high. If a neighbour is vulnerable and struggling to keep on top of their property's maintenance, offer to lend a hand. If, however, your neighbour is just lazy and there are piles of junk in their garden, the situation is trickier. If safe, you could politely knock on your neighbour's door and ask them why the rubbish is there and if it can be cleared. If this fails, you may need to get the council involved. Sarah Khan, head of Churchill home insurance, told This is Money: 'Much like family, you cannot choose your neighbours, or who moves in next door. 'Sometimes you get lucky with neighbours and sometimes less so. 'Unfortunately, no matter how well presented your house is, a messy or poorly maintained neighbouring property can have a significant, detrimental impact on your sale price. 'If you find yourself in this situation and it is a cause for concern, it is worth trying to have a chat with your neighbour to see what can be done about it. 'Even a quick tidy up can make a huge difference, it does not have to be expensive but could significantly improve the curb appeal and the price you achieve for your home.' Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent, said: ' Poor external appearance can reduce property value – and saleability. 'Dumped rubbish, untended gardens, broken boundaries, neglected repairs, peeling paintwork and graffiti are just some of the issues which we find can have a significantly negative impact. 'Most prospective purchasers assume poor appearances may not improve and even deteriorate – irrespective of assurances from owners and estate agents. 'With so many buyers spoilt for choice at present, it's even more important for sellers to differentiate and stand out from the crowd in a good way when making their properties available. 'Properties located in well-run estates or conservation areas can also ensure work is carried out promptly and to a good standard. 'House-proud neighbours and efficient management companies may be fussy but help keep streets tidy as well as maintain values. 'Sellers should be very aware they don't often have a second chance to make a first impression.' Best mortgage rates and how to find them Mortgage rates have risen substantially over recent years, meaning that those remortgaging or buying a home face higher costs. That makes it even more important to search out the best possible rate for you and get good mortgage advice, whether you are a first-time buyer, home owner or buy-to-let landlord. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you To help our readers find the best mortgage, This is Money has partnered with the UK's leading fee-free broker L&C. This is Money and L&C's mortgage calculator can let you compare deals to see which ones suit your home's value and level of deposit. You can compare fixed rate lengths, from two-year fixes, to five-year fixes and ten-year fixes. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use This is Money and L&C's online Mortgage Finder. 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