graffiti on property- effect on house price

sinbad182

Just say to the owners that the house appears to be in a dump, so you're making a lower offer to reflect that

Windsorcastle

EAs value a property taking into account all salient factors, including desirability of area, which might include high crime rate, being next to a noisy road, and many other things. You have to assume that a local EA worth their salt knows the area well and has priced the place accordingly.

Having said that, any property is only worth what someone is willing to pay, so you have nothing to lose by offering whatever you think is fair and they can take it or leave it. If I was the vendor, I would not give a reduction on the basis that someone pointed out it's not a very nice area - I'd just say 'that's the area it's in - up to you'.

Personally, I agree with the posters who have said that peace of mind is the most valuable thing and I would always rather pay more to feel safe somewhere than feel happy to get a bargain and then find the local ASBOs spraying my walls, vomiting over my fence and intimidating me when I walk to the shops, but maybe you're a big toughie former wrestler who's not easily scared? In which case, best of luck.

Excited13

I completely agree with the other comments that location is the most important thing. For me I need to feel safe in my property and in the area I live even if it's late at night and I've had a few too many.

In relation to your question about the offer how long has the property been on the market? Are you chain free? Think of all the advantages you can offer the vendor (eg chain free, mortgage free etc) and list them with your offer.

moneyistooshorttomention

Excited13 wrote: »

I completely agree with the other comments that location is the most important thing. For me I need to feel safe in my property and in the area I live even if it's late at night and I've had a few too many.

In relation to your question about the offer how long has the property been on the market? Are you chain free? Think of all the advantages you can offer the vendor (eg chain free, mortgage free etc) and list them with your offer.

But do bear in mind that the vendor may have countervailing advantages they can offer in return - which would cancel out your advantages.

They might be able to say in return "I've found the place I want" or, even better, be able to say "....and there is no chain on the one I want and it can be available literally the second I want it".

I know I personally have both those advantages as a vendor (provided my buyer doesn't take much longer to turn up) and will lay them on the table if a would-be buyer says "chain free" (as I'm expecting them to be anyway - as this is an FTB or investor house) or mortgage-free and expects any money off for those facts.

So - any advantages like that that a would-be buyer has may mean absolutely nothing to a vendor with advantages themselves and would only "count" to a vendor that hadn't started looking for theirs yet or had found theirs (but their vendor was in a chain).

It depends on the individual vendor...

There DOES have to be valid reasons for knocking money off. I'm still gasping at having heard that a recent vendor locally had one buyer try and knock money off for replacing the kitchen and bathroom - even though they had both just been replaced...

lessonlearned

Location, first and foremost every time.

I would rather have a tiny living space in an area I felt safe and secure than live in a mansion in the middle of a crime infested area.

Graffiti, litter, casual criminal damage to private and commercial properties, smashed up bus stops etc are a sure fire indicator that an area is less than salubrious. They are often the thin end of the wedge and a precursor of what may come in the future.

I have known people who have to keep their doors locked during the day even when they are at home. That's no way to live. Who wants to live in Fort Knox.

Although of course it always pays to remember that even the roughest of areas can be "gentrified" and change dramatically, likewise an area can hit the skids fast.

Take a look at the local shopping street - what's there.

Once the betting shops, cheap booze outlets and charity shops move in it's time to move out........

Smart delis, nice cafes and restaurants, one off boutiques, independent bakeries, proper greengrocers, traditional butchers, florists etc - time to get buying......

getzls

Reminds me of a house i was selling once that had a shop directly facing my house. Local kids used to call the shop owner Hitler.
(Well he did have a mustache.)

The night before people were coming out to view i looked out of my window and youths were painting on the wall of his shop, Hitler is a !!!!!!! in hugh writing.:eek:

I waited untill about two in morning and went to shop with a tin of paint and painted over it. As i was doing this a Police car drove past. I thought that's me arrested. But somehow that must have missed me.

People didn't even buy it after all that trouble.