A study by the double glazing firm Anglian Home Improvements using the latest eye tracking technology provides an insight into which features catch the eye and how the sexes differ when it comes to what’s most likely to grab their attention when they view their potential future home.

Researchers followed a series of buyers on their first visit to what might become their family seat.

The analysts warned: “While any estate agent will tell potential purchasers to try and look past the décor of a home sometimes it’s unavoidable.”

In one house, the viewers spent a lot of time gazing at the owners’ sheepskin rugs and tall wall-mounted radiators. In another place, the buyers noticed a light switch in need of repair.

They also clocked the condition of door frames and sliding doors but only in passing.

The industry watchdogs observed: “Females spent more time looking at the personal touches in the home such as photographs and furnishings while males spent more time looking at the building itself and the outside.

"This suggests females spend more time looking at how the house is made into a home, understanding what it would be like to actually live there while males tend to focus more on practical features and how they contributed to the value.”

Both sexes were distracted by clutter, tut-tutted the report for Anglian. “About a quarter of all eye movements lingered on clutter and mess in the home, proving if you haven’t tidied up before a viewing you’ll get found out.

"Throughout the entire study when participants’ gaze panned a room, the eye-line was often disrupted by clutter.” Pass the smelling salts.

Photographs were another point of interest for both men and women when they viewed a property for sale. “This perhaps favours the notion that potential viewers like to understand who currently lives in the house they’re considering purchasing.

"Throughout the entire study 17 per cent of all participants spent time looking through the windows. We found that potential buyers often commented on the view and how close to the neighbours the house is.

“The garden and outside area were also key. Participants often paused here for a while.”

Antony Gibson, sales managing director for the Romans estate agency network, says the results of the Anglian study underline the importance of aesthetic appeal when a house is for sale.

“Interestingly even those buyers who did not mention clutter in their post-viewing feedback to estate agents found their eyes repeatedly drawn to it in a messy room.

"Perhaps surprisingly just four per cent of time was dedicated to considering the layout of a property, same as the amount of time given to given to repairs or structural features suggesting these issues are not as important to buyers.”

The director of the agency with offices in Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield summed up: “The results also highlight the benefits of parents or friends going with you on viewings to ensure all aspects of a property are seen.”

*Bloor Homes has announced an across the board price freeze on all Bloor developments for buyers in all price ranges in the wake of the Chancellors’ stamp duty cut for first time buyers on properties up to £300,000.

The housebuilder has two developments and another soon to be launched in the Bucks Free Press area.

At Winslow Grange in Stocks Lane, Winslow three bedroom houses start at £360,000 and four beds from £470,000.

At Thame Meadows in Thame, three bedroom houses are available from £520,000 and five beds from £880,000.

The developer is also building a range of one-four bedroom homes on the Windmill Chase development in Chinnor but these aren’t for sale yet.

A spokesman for the company said prices will be frozen on all plots already released until February 1 next year. Any new plots will be priced accordingly.