A new LRG study uncovers the 12 main reasons why prospective buyers fail to put an offer in on a home.

Easily the biggest is the property being overpriced – 56%.

Then comes major work being required – 42%.

Damp or structural issues come next – 35% – equal with an absence of outdoor space.

No off-street parking – 33%

Concerns about the local area – 28%

A long and complicated chain – 15%

Lease concerns, which could be leasehold or a short lease – 13%

“It just didn’t feel right” – 10%

Awkward internal layout – 9%

Poor energy efficiency and high running costs – 7%

A lack of natural light – 5%

The findings come from LRG’s Sales Report Summer 2026, a survey of more than 700 buyers and sellers across the market, from first-time buyers to downsizers.

Sellers themselves agree, often with hindsight. Looking back on their sale, more than a third (35%) said getting the price right from day one mattered more than they had expected.

LRG’s research found more than three-quarters of sellers (77%) priced on an agent’s valuation – 48% on a single valuation and 29% after comparing several – while only 2% relied on gut feeling.

To download the full report, click here.