Brits make a property purchase decision within just 27 minutes

• Almost a quarter of buyers (24 per cent) made their decision in 10 minutes or less

• The average Brit takes three times longer to choose a sofa (88 minutes) than a property

• Buyers in the East of England deliberate the longest (32 minutes) and those in the East Midlands are the quickest (26 minutes)

Brits make a property purchase decision within just 27 minutes of viewing the property in person, according to new research from Zoopla. While the average house hunter makes up their mind in roughly the same length of time as an episode of Coronation Street, almost a quarter (24 per cent) knew it was for them in just 10 minutes or less.

The research from Zoopla also reveals that buyers take three times as long selecting their sofa (88 minutes), and twice as long deliberating over a home appliance (59 minutes), as they do choosing the home itself. Other purchases Brits mull over more so than their property include a car (89 minutes) a laptop or computer (71 minutes) and a smartphone (46 minutes).

Regionally, buyers in the East of England appear to be the most considered, taking the longest to make their property purchase decision (32 minutes), closely followed by those from the West Midlands (30 minutes) and Yorkshire and the Humber (28 minutes). Meanwhile house hunters in the East Midlands are the speediest, where they take just 26 minutes to decide.

Over half (51 per cent) of home owners said they made an offer on the same day they viewed the property, and 45 per cent admitted that they knew they wanted to make an offer the minute they walked through the door.

Perhaps the ability to make a relatively quick decision following a property viewing is a result of the extensive initial research Brits put in. The average house hunter now spends a total of 75 hours over the course of 15 weeks in their search (including research on websites such as Zoopla and estate agent visits), and attend an average of eight viewings before they find ‘the one’. Residents of Wales take the longest, with buyers searching for an average of 83 hours (over 18 weeks), while the quickest property hunters are those in the East Midlands, who take 62 hours (over 12 weeks).

Lawrence Hall, spokesperson for Zoopla comments: “The process of buying a home is a hugely emotive one and whilst a quick decision can help secure a property in a fast-moving market, it's essential to keep a strong head and do as much research online and with your local agent to help build knowledge prior to viewings and making an offer." This news coincides with Zoopla’s new above-the-line campaign launch this week, which shows how the property site can help buyers find a home, as told through the eyes of hermit crabs – the world’s most prolific movers. To watch the new #crabvert, visit Zoopla’s YouTube channel.

Time spent by region

Source: Zoopla, April 2017

Average time spent before purchasing (by item)

Source: Zoopla, April 2017

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