Cleaning, cuddles and a curry… Zoopla reveals what people do when they move into their new home
37% give the property a deep clean, 25% get intimate with their partner, whilst 20% celebrate with a takeaway on their first day in a new home
New mattresses and beds are the most popular items to purchase on moving-in day
Two-thirds of people admit they still don't feel at home after the first week
Decorating and returning from a long day at work are the most likely things to make a new property feel like home
Zoopla, the UK’s most comprehensive property destination, has revealed what Brits do when they first move into a new home. The in-depth analysis of 2,000 people highlights what moving into a new home is worth to them and found 37% give the property a deep clean, 25% get intimate with their partner, whilst 20% simply can’t be bothered to cook so instead celebrate with a takeaway.
Zoopla’s survey found that those north of the border in Scotland were the most likely to spend the first 24 hours cleaning (47%). The effort this takes perhaps explains why they were also the least likely to get intimate on the first day in their home (15%). Elsewhere respondents in the North East showed their sensible side as they were the most likely to crack on with setting up with council tax and utilities on the first day (29%) but almost one in five there also had their first argument on the same day (18%). Those in the East of England were the most likely to get intimate with their partner on moving in day (36%) and they were also the group most likely to order in a well-deserved takeaway (25%). The stress of moving means homeowners in the North West are the most likely to have an argument (19%) however this isn’t true of everywhere with people in the South West the least likely (6%).
As getting intimate is such a moving day rite, unsurprisingly a new mattress is the most popular item to purchase on moving-in day (19%), followed closely by a brand new bed (18%). When it comes to other new-home purchases in the first week, one in five people will buy a new television (21%) and a similar amount will purchase a new sofa to watch it from (20%). 15% of new home buyers will invest in a new dining table and chairs in the first week (despite 42% of people ordering a takeaway in week one) while 35% will purchase an array of new utensils as they get set to whip up a storm in the kitchen.
Despite their best efforts, 68% of respondents said it took over a week for their new property to feel like home while 39% say it took over a month. Regionally those in the South West are the most likely to feel at home in week one (40%) whereas new homeowners in the North East are least likely (20%).
When asked what made their new property feel like home, the most popular reason was decorating and adding their personal stamp on it (26%). This was closely followed by ‘returning home after a day at work’ (23%) suggesting that getting back into a routine made a new property feel like home while unpacking everything was in third place (14%).
Richard Houston, Zoopla consumer spokesperson, comments: “To many buying their first property is worth so much more than simply buying bricks and mortar. We think the home is a deeply meaningful place, nothing matters more to people than where they live with friends or where they call home with their family.
“Whether it's to have more privacy with a partner without living with flatmates, gaining space to start a family or if you simply want somewhere to unleash your creative self, getting on the property ladder has the power to significantly change how you live.
“To help more people get on the ladder we have introduced the Zooploma; a series of guides and information designed to help first-time buyers navigate the complexities of getting on the property ladder in 2020.
“We know what it’s worth for first-time buyers to get a foot on the ladder, and more than 176,000 people have enrolled for our Zooploma emails since Boxing Day."
First-time buyers can learn about the Zooploma and sign up for free here:
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/worth/first-time-buyers
Most popular activities on day one of moving:
Activity | South West | South East | London | North West | North East | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Order a takeaway | 17% | 21% | 22% | 20% | 16% | 14% |
Set-up council tax or utilities | 20% | 19% | 17% | 15% | 29% | 23% |
Give the property a deep clean | 37% | 37% | 28% | 38% | 36% | 30% |
Get intimate with a partner | 26% | 24% | 22% | 22% | 24% | 23% |
Entertain friends | 3% | 3% | 6% | 7% | 2% | 2% |
Entertain family | 9% | 7% | 8% | 6% | 0% | 9% |
Make home improvements | 6% | 5% | 9% | 9% | 18% | 11% |
Have your first argument | 6% | 10% | 12% | 19% | 18% | 4% |
Activity | Scotland | Yorkshire and Humber | East Midlands | West Midlands | East of England | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Order a takeaway | 15% | 19% | 24% | 21% | 25% | 20% |
Set-up council tax or utilities | 25% | 19% | 15% | 20% | 21% | 19% |
Give the property a deep clean | 47% | 38% | 34% | 41% | 40% | 37% |
Get intimate with a partner | 15% | 26% | 30% | 26% | 36% | 25% |
Entertain friends | 3% | 1% | 10% | 3% | 2% | 4% |
Entertain family | 6% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 7% |
Make home improvements | 8% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 7% | 7% |
Have your first argument | 10% | 7% | 12% | 10% | 6% | 10% |
How long it takes to buy new items:
Item purchased | On the same day | Within a week | Within two weeks | Within a month | Within three months | Within six months | Within a year | Over a year | I already had it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sofa | 6% | 14% | 8% | 15% | 9% | 5% | 2% | 7% | 33% |
TV | 9% | 13% | 6% | 8% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 50% |
Dining table and chairs | 5% | 10% | 6% | 13% | 10% | 5% | 4% | 10% | 30% |
Bed | 18% | 19% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 43% |
Mattress | 19% | 19% | 5% | 7% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 44% |
Artwork/ decorations | 2% | 4% | 4% | 10% | 14% | 15% | 9% | 15% | 22% |
Kitchen utensils | 15% | 21% | 6% | 7% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 46% |
Iron | 13% | 17% | 5% | 6% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 51% |
How long it takes to feel like home:
Where do you currently live? | Within a day | Within a week | Within two weeks | Within a month | Within three months | Within six months | Within a year | Over a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Midlands | 10% | 25% | 8% | 21% | 14% | 9% | 5% | 8% |
East of England | 10% | 18% | 10% | 23% | 24% | 6% | 2% | 6% |
London | 11% | 18% | 13% | 24% | 14% | 11% | 3% | 7% |
North East | 11% | 9% | 20% | 27% | 13% | 2% | 11% | 7% |
North West | 9% | 23% | 10% | 25% | 10% | 14% | 4% | 6% |
Scotland | 8% | 17% | 10% | 29% | 17% | 11% | 2% | 5% |
South East | 16% | 22% | 10% | 18% | 16% | 8% | 4% | 7% |
South West | 11% | 29% | 11% | 21% | 15% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
Wales | 7% | 19% | 16% | 23% | 14% | 7% | 4% | 11% |
West Midlands | 17% | 20% | 13% | 14% | 16% | 8% | 7% | 5% |
Yorkshire and Humber | 15% | 22% | 7% | 17% | 13% | 14% | 6% | 7% |
UK | 12% | 21% | 11% | 21% | 15% | 9% | 4% | 6% |
Top 10 things that make it feel like home
Rank | Activity | :% of respondents |
|---|---|---|
1 | Decorating your new home | 26% |
2 | Returning to your home after a day at work | 22% |
3 | Unpacking everything | 14% |
4 | Waking up after the first night | 13% |
5 | Having friends/family visit | 8% |
6= | Making your first meal from scratch | 3% |
6= | Having a beer or a glass of wine | 3% |
8= | Getting a pet | 2% |
8= | The first cup of tea | 2% |
10 | Buying plants | 1% |
- Ends -
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