There are 262,300 miles of paved roads in the UK.
And this number is growing every year.
Being near important and busy roads is useful for travel. But it’s not ideal for living conditions.
So, how do you sell a house on a busy road?
We’ve given several top tips in this blog.
Host viewings during quieter periods
When you host viewings with potential buyers, you want to show your house in its best possible condition.
While this usually refers to the inside of your property (i.e., how you stage it), you may also want to consider your surroundings (i.e., curb appeal).
Hosting viewings during quieter periods may stop your buyers from focusing on the busy road.
This doesn’t mean that you’re lying about what living in your house is like.
You’re simply showing them a best-case scenario – as all homeowners do on viewing day!
Know your road
You should pay attention to when your road is the quietest. Avoiding rush hour, as people come home from work, is a smart decision.
The middle of the afternoon, during the evening, or on Sunday are all viable options.
Don’t lie if you’re asked about it
Although you want to show your house in the best light, that doesn’t mean you should lie when asked questions.
Your viewers will often notice that your road is busy. And they don’t want to be deceived about the reality of the situation.
This could create distrust or a reduced offer because of your lies.
You might also be sued further down the line if you deliberately deceive your buyers. It’ll often cost far more money in the long run.
Find ways to reduce noise when inside your house
You should try to reduce road noise inside your property. If these are fixed into place, it’ll sometimes make your house more valuable.
You could install windows and doors that automatically close when left open. This protects from exterior noise.
You could add features that absorb noise, such as:
- Triple-glazing windows
- Carpets
- Rugs
- Wall insulation
- Bookshelves
Seal up gaps and perhaps even think about adding white noise.
You could include many of these features as part of your sale. And it’ll help on viewing day, as well.
Improve your property’s appearance
Potential buyers will be more willing to overlook a busy road, if your house looks attractive.
You should thus put lots of thought into giving your property the best possible appearance. For example, you could:
- Cut your grass and trim hedges
- Get rid of anything old or broken
- Tidy away clutter
- Utilise natural lighting
- Clean your bathrooms
- Depersonalise key rooms (e.g. bedrooms).
Understand who the viewers are, and what their priorities are thus likely to be in a new home.
Focus on all the positives
For every downside, there’s an upside. And the same applies to being on a high street or busy road.
Plenty of positives come with this, which you can focus on with buyers.
Amenities
To start with, your transport connections to local amenities are likely to be excellent.
That’s because you can drive a car quickly to other major locations. And there may be public transport available, too.
Sense of community
There can be a greater sense of community on a busy road.
If you’re friendly with the neighbours, it can create an enjoyable social aspect in your home.
There’s also more likely to be witnesses if something goes wrong (e.g., a burglary), which can sometimes keep you safer.
Exciting events
Many exciting things are going on in a densely populated area.
Street parties, carnivals or local market stalls are common examples.
Local investment
In many situations, the local government looks after busy roads the best.
Your street will be ploughed first when there’s snow, and potholes on your road may get priority.
Install fences and walls
Fences and walls around your property boundary are excellent for blocking noise.
They can also give you more privacy, in a densely populated area where you might otherwise struggle with this.
Make sure you adhere to all local regulations around the size of these things.
When hosting viewings, ensure these fences and walls are adequately maintained. Otherwise, you may turn a potential strength into a weakness.
