Research released today revealed the nation’s strangest house hunting experiences. From the discovery of stray pets to sightings of the supernatural, the research uncovers an array of quirky incidents; with 1 in 4 people (23.5%) reporting that they experienced an unusual encounter in their search for the perfect home.

Top 10 Strangest House Viewings

1. Discovered that the owners had given each of their pets
their own bedroom
2. Arrived to find the roof had fallen in
3. Experienced a spooky ghost like presence
4. Split up with a partner due to an argument over a potential
house purchase
5. Ended up making friends with the people selling
6. Looked around the wrong house
7. Got locked in the house whilst viewing
8. Found someone in the house sleeping it off after a drinking
session
9. Found a stray pet left behind
10.Walked in on a couple together in the bedroom

Other bizarre findings, which not surprisingly put off prospective buyers, included the discovery of the sellers sex habits posted on the fridge, a dead pigeon found in the bathroom and a discovery that someone asleep upstairs had already purchased the house.

Searching for a house can be a stressful experience for many people. However if people plan ahead with regards to their finances, it will enable them to feel much better prepared for when they do eventually find their perfect home.

It is perhaps therefore a relief to many house hunters that the research shows the majority of people view less than 5 houses (43%) and take less than 3 months (33%) before they find their ideal house. However at the other end of the scale there are some dedicated house hunters who devote years and end up visiting over 100 properties (1%) in search of their dream home.

Always make a checklist of priorities before visiting any properties, taking into account factors such as the location, size, local amenities, surrounding areas and council tax banding of the property.