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Noise, traffic, garbage and graveyards were named the top dealbreakers for property buyers, according to a new comparative survey.
A new survey by Compare the Market revealed that nearly 30 per cent of Australians would not buy nor rent a property near a landfill.
No surprise – the data showed that one in three people said they could not stand the sight or smell of garbage, while one in five could not deal with airport noise.
Living near an airport was a dealbreaker for 22.1 per cent of Aussies, while 16.5 per cent refused to live next to a graveyard.
Other less desirable locations included living next to a highway, considered a dealbreaker by 12.3 per cent of respondents, next to a railway at 6.8 per cent, and next to a school at 6.2 per cent.
According to Compare the Market property expert Andrew Winter, spending time in the potential area before purchasing a property is essential to avoid buyer’s remorse.
“Doing your due diligence is key before making an offer on any property,” Winter said.
“While some factors like highway noise may be obvious, others, like flight paths, are less apparent but can still have a big impact.”
Winter noted that dealbreakers can also depend on location and are often part of city planning.
“A busy road in a quiet suburb or acreage location can have a huge negative impact, but traffic noise is part and parcel of living in city and urban environments,” he said.
“Even airport noise is accepted as the norm in some areas if it means you are living in a well-placed, high-demand area.
“Simply consider, ‘Are any negatives appropriate for the area?’ If they are, don’t stress too much about them.”
Winter said prospective buyers should look at building and suburb reports and visit the area at different times during the day to grasp the neighbourhood atmosphere before buying.
“For first-time buyers, that probably means adjusting your expectations, working out your top priorities and choosing some areas you’re happy to negotiate on,” he said.
“Ask yourself: ‘What can I live without?’ Maybe it’s compromising on size so that you don’t have to live near the noisy airport or highway.”
On a more interesting note, Winter pointed out that, surprisingly, one respondent said he would not want to live near the beach.
“If they ever find themselves with a beach house they don’t want, I’ll gladly take it off their hands!” Winter concluded.
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