A new report into today’s property market has identified several factors that can stop a property deal in its tracks.
The authors of the LRG Summer 2026 Sales Report interviewed 700 buyers, from first-time purchasers through to downsizers.
They found that while emotion is a “positive force in a purchase”, there are several very practical considerations that can quickly end any prospect of a deal. These include:
1. Overpricing was mentioned by 56% of buyers. Even if a buyer likes the area or the home, if the asking price is out of step with market norms and doesn’t represent good value, then it’s a definitive thanks, but no thanks.
2. The need to do major renovation work (42%).
3. Damp or structural issues (35%).
4. Lack of outdoor space (35%)
5. No off-street parking (33%).
6. Concerns about the local area (28%).
Considerations for sellers
As a seller, some things are beyond your control. If your property doesn’t have a garden or designated parking space, and they are absolute must-haves for a buyer, there’s not much you can do.
But there are other aspects of a property sale that are very much within your gift, so this is where you should focus your attention.
The most obvious is pricing. Buyer choice is currently at its highest level since 2015. This means that if your asking price is unrealistic and your expectations are out of step with the current market, then you’re likely to be disappointed.
As the report says: “Emotion may draw a buyer to a home, but whether a sale actually happens comes down to price and to whether both sides can agree on what the home is worth.”
This is especially critical if you’re listing a doer-upper. About two-fifths of buyers said they were open to a project “but only where the price reflects the work involved”.
The report concludes: “This demonstrates the doer-upper hasn’t died so much as repriced. Buyers will still take on a home that needs work, but expect the asking price to carry the cost.”
Clarity
While damp and structural problems can be clear red flags, the report notes that these issues can be overcome - if the seller takes the initiative.
It says: “A buyer’s own survey usually finds them, often late, when a sale is hardest to hold together.
“Sellers who identify problems before listing can fix them, disclose them or price for them, rather than lose a committed buyer at the survey stage.”
If you’re looking to list your home, contact us for a free, honest market evaluation.
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