Homebuyers 'don't make snap decisions'

Bill McClintock, the Ombudsman for Estate Agent’s (OEA) chief operating officer, has disagreed with the research from ING Direct which suggests homebuyers make snap decisions when purchasing a property.

ING Direct found that homebuyers took only 17 minutes to choose their desired residence, but Mr McClintock said that people may appear to make quick choices but this is usually after months of planning.

"I don’t think they make a quick decision unless they have done a lot of work beforehand, to work out the sort of property they really want," he explained.

He continued: "If people have done the proper research, they know the area they want to be in, and they know the price range they want to be in, then it’s not difficult to make the decision when the right house comes along."

The OEA provides an impartial review of complaints related to matters between member agencies and consumers.