A new survey by Aviva shows that people now typically spend just 33 minutes looking round a house before making the decision to buy it.
The time spent viewing before making a snap decision to purchase has dropped from an average of 39 minutes 10-20 years ago. A quarter of home owners admitted to only viewing a property once before buying it; a worrying statistic when you bear in mind this is likely to be the single largest financial transaction they will ever make.
Perceived competition for properties has increased, according to the findings. The proportion of people who said there was ”not much” or ”no competition” when they bought their home has fallen from 65% for people who made their purchase 20 years ago to 46% among those who bought recently, the survey found.
Carol Peett, a Buyer’s Agent at West Wales Property Finders, advises people to always visit a property a second time before committing to purchasing it. “You may fall in love with a property on the first viewing and get a sense of the size of rooms, amount of light, layout, etc. but I doubt you will ever take in every detail on the initial visit. During the first visit you will be ruled by your heart, whilst the second visit is time to stand back and really assess what the property has to offer; whether it fulfills all your requirements and is a sensible proposition”.
The use of a property finder (buyers’ agents) can be a major asset in finding your new home and, whilst many people are under the impression that property finders are only used by the rich and famous, in reality we help people with any budget; large or small. . As many people will be relying on the equity in their home to provide for their retirement, choosing wisely and paying the correct price is vital.
At West Wales Property Finders we view all properties we think may be suitable for a client and then provide them with a professional assessment on a shortlist of suitable houses. This includes, typically, a report with “warts and all” photographs pointing out any negative points as well as the good ones. We also provide guidance on the area, schools, amenities and other factors that might affect the value of a property’s long term value.
We visit properties on several occasions and at different times of the day and would recommend all buyers do this. One property we visited, for example, appeared to be set in an idyllic, peaceful, location on our first visit which was at a weekend; typically the time most people view houses. However, on our second visit during the working week, the peace was shattered by noise from a quarry over a mile away and the quiet, wild flower covered lane was filled with lorries thundering back and forth to the quarry.
Buyers moving to a new area can also be wooed by the bustle of a seaside village in Summer which, in the depths of Winter when all the tourists are gone, can be a very different proposition. Local knowledge is essential and, by using a buyers’ agent, you are tapping into a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help you avoid the pitfalls and ensure you get the best from your move.
If you are thinking of moving to Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Gower, or purchasing property here, we would be delighted to help you. Please contact Carol Peett at West Wales Property Finders on 01834 862816 or by email to carol@westwalespropertyfinders.co.uk.
