A recent survey conducted by Zoopla and Mortar Research found that a fifth of homebuyers spend less than 20 minutes looking at a property before deciding to make an offer. In fact, the average time spent on a viewing is around 49 minutes, equating to almost £6,000 a minute based on the average UK property price of £291,268.
Interestingly, the research revealed that viewers tend to focus more on impermanent, cosmetic features such as artwork, furniture, and family photos rather than structural elements. A quarter of respondents admitted to looking at family pictures, while others were more interested in checking out home tech and furniture. Eye-tracking glasses used in a house-viewing experiment found that buyers were drawn to ornamental aspects of a property, rather than practical elements like flooring and walls.
Furthermore, the survey showed that few prospective buyers checked essential elements of a property such as the condition of the boiler, water pressure, attic, and cellar. Damp and condensation, which can cause major issues down the line, were also overlooked by a significant proportion of buyers.
Daniel Copley, a consumer expert at Zoopla, emphasized the importance of thoroughly inspecting all elements of a property before making a purchase. He advised buyers to be fully informed in order to avoid potential costly issues in the future. As buying a home is likely the most expensive purchase one will ever make, taking the time to properly assess a property can save both time and money in the long run.
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