Damp has been ranked as the number one thing that can put potential buyers off a house. According to a recent survey by home insurance company GoCompare, 67% of people would be discouraged from buying a house that had any visible evidence of damp. Some of the other problems on the list may also be related to damp, making it important to get the problem sorted.
Additionally, 60% of people said they would be put off by rotten windows–which may be caused by damp–and rot infestations resulting from a past problem with damp. 53% would be turned off by bad smells, including those made by pets, cigarettes, and damp. Damp even beats other problems such as unfinished building work and poor DIY to the top of the list.
What are the Benefits of Fixing Damp?
Future owners aren’t going to want to deal with the hassle of getting rid of the damp themselves, so it’s easier for them to simply find another house, leaving you with no potential buyers. Damp may be a sign of underlying problems such as a leaking roof, so it’s important to get this fixed so that the problems don’t just return later on. It may seem like fixing your damp problem will take up a lot of time and money, but by taking steps to fix the problem now, the process of selling your house will go much more smoothly. You may even end up getting a higher price for your home than you would if it had untreated damp.
What are the Causes of Damp?
A major cause of damp is condensation. This can be a particular problem in poorly ventilated houses and is made worse in cold, damp weather when the inside of your house is warmer than outside. Other causes of damp include penetrating damp, where water travels through the wall from outside. This can be caused by rain or by leaking pipes, gutters or roofs, so make sure you check all of these if you notice damp patches. Rising damp is another cause, which is the result of groundwater being wicked up through your home’s brickwork. This can leave salts in your walls, attracting more moisture and exacerbating the problem.
Consult a Damp Proofing Specialist
Once you have determined which of these is causing damp in your home, steps can be taken to address the issue. These can include damp proofing your house, or using water repellent coatings, depending on the underlying cause. Either way, it’s important to consult a damp proofing specialist to make sure that the problem is correctly diagnosed, and so that you can be confident of getting exactly the right treatment to suit your home.
Even in a buoyant market it can be difficult to find a buyer for your house, so it’s important for it to be in the best possible condition to ensure a sale. If you’re considering selling a property, the first thing you should do is make sure it doesn’t have any of the undesirable qualities found in the GoCompare survey. And with damp being the top of the list, solving your damp problem should be your number one priority.
