What is the Average House Hunting Time: How long will it take to find my perfect house?

When we begin working with our clients, we are often asked “how long does the average house-hunt take?”

Like many aspects of house hunting, the average house-hunting time varies from person to person, no two house hunts are the same, as no two house hunters are identical.

When you choose to work with a property finder like Stacks, we can help to shorten your house hunting time by working closely with you and handling some of the time-consuming elements for you.

Factors Affecting Average House Hunting Time 

So, what factors affect the average house hunting time. How long it will take to find your perfect house can depend on;

• The economic climate
• Budget
• Current market trends
• Location
• Specific requirements
• The personal preferences of the buyer
• Competition
• Time of year

It’s important to remember that all house-hunting journeys are unique. There is no one size fits all. When working with Stacks home finding service, we help you navigate the complicated realities of house hunting in the UK, making sure you understand the process and can make informed decisions and shorten your house hunting time.

Ways to Reduce House Hunting Time

There are some factors you can control to try and shorten the average house hunting time for you.

1. Define Your Criteria

One of the easiest ways to shorten your house hunting time is to make sure you clearly outline your must-haves and nice-to-haves when it comes to property. This could be in terms of location, size, number of bedrooms, amenities, and any other features that are important to you. This will help you narrow down your search and focus on properties that meet your specific requirements.

When you work with Stacks, we can help you to define your criteria and also give advice on realistic expectations to have.

2. Work with a Buying Agent

At Stacks, we are the buyers agent meaning we are on your side when it comes to finding houses our property finder service can save you time by helping you quickly identify properties that match your criteria. Our team of regional directors have extensive knowledge of their areas of the UK and will have insights into the local market. We can provide inside secrets when it comes to the property market and often know about properties which are not on the market yet.

Of course, our negotiation skills will ensure you get the best price for your perfect property.

3. Use Online Property Portals

Surfing the property portals alone will never suffice, but they can help inform your opinions about areas, value and amenities.  Remember of course that the information can be misleading, if not downright inaccurate – it is advertising after all!

Whilst we don’t advise you to search solely online for your perfect home, it’s a good idea to utilise online property listing websites as they may help you define your criteria if you don’t yet have one.

4. Research Areas in Advance

Although we can provide information about the area you are looking into, it’s great for you to familiarise yourself with your desired area if you can. This can help us to narrow down areas that align with your preferences, saving you time by focusing on specific locations.

5. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

If you plan to finance your home purchase, getting pre-approved for a mortgage can help you understand your budget and show sellers that you’re a serious buyer, giving you an advantage in a competitive market. Be clear and consistent about your finances – changing plans partway through is a red flag for vendors and agents.

6. Be Flexible with Timing and Availability

Try to be flexible with your schedule to accommodate property viewings. At Stacks, we can attend the initial viewing on your behalf and only invite you to view properties we know you’ll love.

However, in a competitive market, it’s important that you are available to view the properties promptly so that you don’t miss out on your dream home. Therefore, being flexible with your timing and availability is a great way to reduce the average house-hunting time for your property search.

7. Keep a Checklist and Take Notes

Creating a checklist of your criteria and bringing it with you when you view properties can be a good idea. This can help you quickly assess whether a property meets your requirements.

It’s also a good idea to take notes when viewing your property. This can help you distinguish between properties if you have seen multiple options in one day.

8. Stay Realistic

While it’s good to have clear preferences, staying open to compromise on some aspects can help you find a suitable property more quickly. This is another area we can advise on; there are many reasons why you may have to compromise; it could be budget, availability or even timing.

9. Act Decisively

When it comes to house hunting, it’s so important to act decisively; if not, you risk losing a property which you may have fallen in love with. If you find a property that meets your criteria and feels right, don’t hesitate too long. With our inside knowledge, we can often advise on competition levels so you will not be pressured into rash decisions, and be armed with all the relevant context.

Average House Hunting Time and Stacks

Remember that while there are ways to help speed up the house-hunting process, it’s still essential to make informed and thoughtful decisions to ensure that you find a property that meets your needs and fits your budget.

When we work with our clients, we do all we can to meet their criteria. We try to shorten the house hunting time if this is what our clients desire. However, sometimes finding the perfect property takes time.

If you are looking for your next dream home and want to enlist the help of a property finder, then contact Stacks today.