A growing number of UK home sellers are demanding rapid communication and action from estate agents, with nearly all expecting responses within 24 hours at various stages of the sales process. According to research by Street Group, which surveyed 1,830 individuals currently selling or having recently sold their homes, this shift in expectations is driven by the instant gratification often provided by digital services.
The study reveals that for initial property sale enquiries, a significant 85% of sellers anticipate a response from an estate agent within 24 hours. Notably, one in five respondents would consider anything longer than four hours to be unacceptably slow, while only 4% would tolerate a wait exceeding two working days.
Once properties are on the market, this expectation for speed continues. The research found that nearly 80% of sellers expect feedback following a viewing within 24 hours, with a more pressing 12% demanding information within just four hours. When prospective buyers raise questions or express interest, 82% of sellers expect an update within a day, and almost one in three (30%) believe they should hear from their agent within an hour.
The receipt of an offer triggers the highest demand for immediate communication. Almost two-thirds (63%) of sellers expect to be informed either immediately or within an hour of an offer being made, and a near-unanimous 96% expect notification on the same day. Even during negotiation phases, communication remains a priority, with over a third (35%) of sellers expecting at least one update daily, and a further quarter content with updates every two to three days.
The need for timely responses does not diminish once a sale has been agreed. The findings reveal that more than 63% of sellers expect responses to questions or requests for updates on the same working day, with 85% anticipating a reply within 24 hours. Heather Staff, co-founder of Street Group, noted that these expectations are shaped by wider digital experiences, where instant confirmations and real-time notifications have become the norm, presenting a challenge for agents managing multiple transactions.