A new study from property lawyers LPL suggests that the ideal number of property viewings for first-time buyers, before stress and frustration become significant, is between four and five. The First-Time Buyer Anxiety Index, which is due to launch later this summer, surveyed first-time buyers to identify key stress points.
The research found a correlation between the number of houses viewed and rising anxiety and stress levels. Excitement gradually increases, peaking at the fourth or fifth viewing, then declines. Stress levels, however, showed a different pattern, increasing steadily with each additional property viewed.
While around a third of first-time buyers generally feel excited by the property search, this feeling is experienced by 47% at the fourth or fifth viewing. It then drops to 30% for six to 10 viewings and 25% for 11 to 20 viewings. The study also noted that only one in 10 first-time buyers experience stress at the first viewing, which rises to more than one in three after viewing more than 10 properties.
Louise Stephens-Pantoja, head of operations at LPL, commented that while excitement is the overwhelming feeling, stress and frustration can emerge as the search continues, particularly when buyers encounter issues such as gazumping or delays.