A survey of 1000 home movers suggests expectations around the time it takes to complete a property purchase is being insufficiently communicated, with over two thirds of respondents saying their purchase took longer than expected.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, against a backdrop of extending transaction timescales, three quarters of respondents said their transaction took longer than 12 weeks.
Conveyancing bore the brunt of respondents’ frustrations, although the survey highlights it is by far the most complex element of the process. Just over half (55%) of respondents said they agreed with the statement, ‘The conveyancing process slowed down my property purchase’. A similar number (54%) said the conveyancing or legal process was the most complicated or difficult part of the process to navigate.
The survey of homeowners – all of whom made a purchase in the past year – was undertaken by law firm Lyons Bowe in a bid to shed light on the timescales of the buying process.
One quarter of respondents said their transaction took longer than 16 weeks to complete. For just under a quarter (22%), it took longer than 24 weeks. While conveyancing is identified as the part of the process which took longest to complete, chain related delays (27%) mortgage approvals (4%) and valuations (4%) were also factors.
Paul Lyons, managing director at Lyons Bowe Solicitors, said the results were not surprising given the role conveyancers play. “It’s not surprising that so many homebuyers feel conveyancing slows things down,” he explained.
“The process sits at the centre of a property transaction and involves multiple parties, including solicitors, lenders, agents, buyers and sellers, all of whom are working to different timelines. Delays often stem from fragmented communication, repeated information requests, and a lack of visibility, which can leave buyers feeling out of control and uncertain about progress.”
Fragmented communication was a take-away from the survey, with three quarters of respondents saying the conveyancer or solicitor relationship involved the most back and forth communication, followed by the estate agent (18%), mortgage lender (6%) and surveyor (2%).
Technology has a role to play in helping to reduce delays, Lyons said, with real-time case tracking, proactive communication and clear, upfront information contributing to a reduction in back-and-forth and offering clients a clearer understanding of where they stand at every stage. However, he acknowledged technology cannot replace human involvement.
“Importantly, while technology improves efficiency, it doesn’t replace the human element,” he said. “We place a strong emphasis on personal support and accountability, ensuring clients feel guided rather than processed. The result is a conveyancing experience that is more transparent, more predictable, and ultimately less stressful. We believe that this helps to keep transactions moving and expectations aligned from start to finish.”
