Selling my house on a noisy road

What’s a noisy road, and how does it affect selling my home?

Noisy roads are typically main thoroughfares in busy cities, towns, and other locations. They tend to generate a lot of traffic whether it’s lot of pedestrians, plenty of vehicles, or both. And people and cars in turn produce noise, so sometimes the combined effect can be overwhelming for residents who live on such roads and have to deal with the noise invading their homes.

If you want to sell your house or flat but you are located on a noisy road, you might find it somewhat more difficult to sell compared to living in a quiet and remote area.

Even if your home has double glazing and thick walls and doors, there’s still the potential that traffic noise can carry across into the home. This can make for an unpleasant living experience, and could potentially deter some buyers. If you, an estate agent, or other representative overseeing the sale of the home arranges a viewing for a possible buyer, they might decide against buying if they hear a lot of street noise while they’re at your property.

Nearby train stations and railway lines can also generate noise, so some people might consider your house to be on a noisy road if they are located near a station or heavily used train tracks.

Another concern that potential buyers could have is that – even if they like your house and are interested in purchasing it despite the noise level – they might struggle to sell it in the future. If they are looking at your property as an investment and intend to relocate sometime in the coming years, the noisy road could be a factor that deters them from deciding to buy. Highways England maintains a database of major road projects that you should look at carefully when considering a home move.

For similar reasons, some homeowners worry that if their home is underneath a flight path that it might discourage buyers from being interested in their property. For example, people that own houses near an airport might worry that buyers will be deterred by the sounds of aircraft passing close overhead when they take off and land. Yet they have options for selling, and so do you, even if you happen to live on a street that produces a lot of noise.

Steps you can take to help sell your house when it’s on a noisy road

Even if your house or flat is situated on a noisy road, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be able to attract many buyers. There are a number of simple steps that you can take to help reduce the effect of the noise and make your property more enticing for a possible sale.

Close your windows and doors during a property viewing

This is a simple tip but can be very effective – by closing the doors and windows at your home you will naturally reduce the amount of noise that comes in from outside. If you or your estate agent are holding viewings at your house, having the windows and doors closed can make the effect of the noise seem much less of a factor.

Install double glazing to help cut the level of noise from outside

Many buyers generally tend to like homes that have double glazing, so installing it regardless of noise levels outside can be beneficial. But in a situation where your house is on a noisy road it can be even more helpful to selling, because double glazing helps to further reduce the impact that a noisy road can have on sound levels inside your home.

Install trees, fences, and walls that can help dampen exterior noise

Another option for reducing noise from the road is to install trees, fences, and walls that can help to absorb some of the external sounds. Although this step will require some time and money, the end result is that it’ll likely help to minimise the noise from the road and therefore make your home more attractive to an interested buyer.