How long do you take before deciding upon a house?

While buying a house is considered to be one of the most important decisions a person can make, a new survey has shown that most of us take more time to choose a new television.

The online property portal Zoopla has released the results of a survey illustrating the length of time average Brits take to decide to buy a new home – and it seems that when we find the right place, we tend not to dither too much.

Across the entirety of the UK, prospective buyers will browse a property for between 25 and 32 minutes before deciding to buy, with subtle variations from region to region.

Of course, when we visit a house that we are considering, most of us have already carried out a fair amount of research before we even visit – and with photos, floor plans, and 3D virtual shots available for many of the thousands of homes available for purchase at any given time, maybe the snap decision is not so snappy after all.

For many buyers, prior to making a final decision, there have been multiple viewings of different properties thanks to an average of 75 hours of research across 15 weeks – and as purchasing a home is equally an emotional and objective decision, it’s clear that sometimes a house just ‘feels right’.

There is also good reason to ensure that the decision is made relatively quickly – as chances are that you are not the only prospective buyer, and delaying the choice could see another offer accepted.

The survey, which consisted of 2,000 buyers, also showed that 45% of those questioned knew they would make an offer as soon as they walked through the door – and that more than half put in an offer on the same day of the viewing.

Interestingly enough, the research also compared the length of time it takes to make other purchases – discovering that although we, as consumers, won’t just buy any house, we are however willing to spend three times as long choosing a sofa; and twice as long to buy a household appliance such as a TV or microwave.

For sellers, it’s quite clear that making sure your home is presentable and clean during viewings is key to influencing a potential buyer’s decision. And that making a little bit of an effort with first impressions can pay huge dividends in capturing the attention of those looking to buy.

Lots of viewings but no offers? Why not ask National Homebuyers for advice, as we buy any house. Call 08000 443 911 or request a call back to find out how much you could get for your property.