Quick Move Blog

UK homebuyers spend on average just 17 minutes looking at a new property before deciding to buy it, according to a survey for bank ING Direct.

That is less time than the 54 minutes they take to pick out the new curtains.

49% of buyers cited their main reason for deciding so quickly is the fear someone else would snap up the property unless they were quick. A fifth of buyers blamed their haste on estate agents talking up interest from other parties.

As a result of spending just 17 minutes before making their decision to buy a property, 26% of respondents said they ended up regretting moving so quickly.

"The pace of today's housing market puts a huge amount of stress on buyers and our research shows this can lead to snap decisions being made when choosing a new home," said ING Direct chief executive Lindsay Sinclair.