Other concerns included not wanting to live next to a graveyard, black cats being seen during viewings or more commonly, questions about ghosts in the property. House numbers that add up to particularly unlucky numbers also put off some buyers.
The survey among independent estate agents in the Move with Us Partner Network throughout the UK found that potential homebuyers were often ’spooked’ by particular physical and psychological elements of a property, even when the property on paper was perfect for them.
More unusual reasons for not wanting to purchase a property include:
• The property was on a three-cornered plot which could bring bad luck
• Devils hiding in the garden
• A broken mirror thought to bring seven years bad luck on the house
• Problems with the front door including the direction it faces and its colour
• Stairs facing the front door, which some believe is a sign of losing wealth
• Being warned by clairvoyants that the house was not the right one for them
• Buyer could see trapped souls within the house and her spirit guide warned her they were bad people
• One viewer was visited in their sleep by a family member and told to stay away
However some superstitions are good omens for potential homebuyers and some estate agents reported that properties with the house number eight are popular choices for some cultures who believe in the good luck that the connotations with the number bring. Another agent noted that one viewer spotted a white feather on the path as they walked in and felt that angels were watching over the property and decided to purchase the house for this reason.
Estate agents have also report a number of spooky goings on when they visit properties. The most common being strange shaped shadows appearing in marketing photos and doors slamming in a vacant property.
Robin King, Director, Move with Us said:
"Potential buyers know when they’ve found the right property as the old adage that it has to ‘feel’ right always rings true. We have however heard lots of superstitious reasons for not buying a perfect property, from not liking the next door neighbour’s cat to the colour of the front door.
As the dark nights close in it’s easy to see why potential homebuyers might get unnerved when viewing a property in the evening. New sounds and unfamiliar surroundings may leave you feeling uncomfortable. But viewers also need to remain open minded - if they find the right property remember that by the time they get their belongings in and change the decor to suit their individual taste it will quickly feel like home. Don't be put off by minor cosmetic details as they could be the thing standing between you and your dream home."
