The Negative Effects Of Damp On Your Home’s Value

Here is a sincere word of advice to London home owners who are thinking of selling- don’t let it get damp! If you detect even just a small wet patch on a wall you need to take immediate action, because once the damp creeps in, it can spread throughout the house more rapidly than you expect. If you see any signs of dampness, it’s best to have an independent damp and timber survey performed as soon as possible so you can take remedial action. If the rising damp and other dampness problems go untreated, your property will begin to be devalued, losing its appeal and harming your profits!

Over the last decade, awareness of the health hazards and potentially dangerous damage to a home’s structure that damp can cause has grown, so today’s home buyers are now more cautious, and will very likely request a pre-purchase damp survey before they are willing to invest. That’s why it’s best for the home owner to be proactive, making sure any damp issues are sorted before putting their home on the market.

A damp problem that goes unchecked can have a very negative effect on the property value, here are some examples:

A Hard Sell – If your home is dripping with damp and the structure has sustained damage, it’s going to be a real hard sell, it’s doubtful that anyone will want to purchase it. In a worst-case scenario in which the structure is severely dilapidated it’s probably best to tear it down and just sell the lot. Hopefully it never gets to that sorry state, which is why we urge you to take action and order an independent damp surveyor in London to assess the situation before it’s too late.

Repairs Are Pricey – Once a home has sustained damage from damp related issues its guaranteed that the repairs are going to be pricey. Untreated damp can do untold amounts of damage to a home, the foundations are weakened, the timbers rot, and even the brickwork can fall part! If the problem is allowed to advance that far, extensive damp repair services will be required, and they will cost you plenty.

The Market Value Drops – The sad fact is that if your home has been damaged by untreated dampness, its market value is going to drop significantly. The presence of damp is sure to turn off potential buyers, so your asking price is going to have to decrease to match the devaluation. Extensive damp related issues can reduce your home’s sale price by over 70%- don’t allow the damp to rob you!

At London Damp Specialists our certified surveyors use digital technology to diagnose damp and mould problems, so our inspections are always performed to above industry standard. If you have a rising damp issue in your London home, just call London Damp Specialists on 020 7523 5882 and we will send an independent damp surveyor near you to help ascertain your damp problem. Winter is on its way, so have your home inspected for dam and mould.