SPRING is in the air, and househunters are out in full force. But some of them are discovering a lot more than they bargained for.

New research has 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 one in four people reporting that they experienced an unusual encounter in their search for the perfect home.

Among the top 10 strangest house viewings in the survey by Smile Mortgages include someone who got locked into a house while looking around; a couple who arrived to find the roof had fallen in and an unwitting viewer who looked around the wrong house.

Topping the poll were the owners who had given each of their pets their own private 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.

A spokesman for the Winton branch of a well-known chain of estate agents said: "It's true that these sort of incidents do happen. I went to accompany a viewing and the house was flooded. A water main had burst and there was water flooding down from the loft. It was running into the second bedroom and then down into the lounge-diner below. The vendors weren't around either so it was a little awkward."

He went on to add: "A colleague of mine was on a viewing and she walked in on an amorous couple together in a bedroom.

"I think the couple must have forgotten about the appointment. I'm not sure who was more embarrassed."

Helen Winter, who lives in Charminster has been househunting for a few weeks. She told the Echo: "I can't believe the state of some places I've looked at.

"One home was stuffed full of cuddly toys so you could hardly see what the rooms looked like. Another place had a kitchen stacked with dirty dishes that were going mouldy.

"A lot of people just don't seem to realise how this sort of thing can turn people off."

Mr and Mrs Wilson from Southbourne remember going to look at a house which seemed perfect on the set of details, but while walking up the path heard a blazing row coming from inside the house.

"The couple were really ripping into each other. As well as furious voices, we heard the sound of plates smashing," Mr Wilson explained.

"We didn't want to intrude so we turned right back around and looked at another house which we fell in love with and ended up buying."

The Smile research also showed that the majority of people view less than five houses and take less than three months to find their ideal house.

However, at the other end of the scale there are some dedicated house hunters who devote years of their time and end up visiting over 100 properties in search of their dream home.

The company recommends that house viewers should make a checklist of their 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.