First impressions matter for buyers

Two-fifths of home buyers have already made their minds up by the time they reach the hallway, a study has found.

Nearly a third (29%) of home owners surveyed by property search website Rightmove said they had decided to buy the house by the time they had set foot through the front door.

A further one in 10 (8%) said they had made their decision after seeing the property online and one in 20 (4%) said they had done so after reading about it in a newspaper advert.

Researchers said they had found similar results among renters, with 42% of tenants saying they had chosen the property by the time they entered the front door.

The research comes after British Bankers' Association figures showed that mortgage approvals last month dropped to their lowest numbers in at least 15 years.

Analysts said that fewer people in a position to buy a home could push house prices down in the coming months, as lenders tighten their borrowing criteria amid the uncertain economy.

Rightmove director Miles Shipside said: "In a market where new sellers outnumber successful buyers by around 2:1 and home-buying decisions can be made very quickly, the ability to make an immediate and impactful impression is more important than ever.

"With lots of property to look at, buyers tend to exclude rather than include, and once dismissed it is a challenge to regain a buyer's attention."

The study of 3,000 people was carried out to mark a recently-launched campaign by Rightmove, which gives tips on how to sell and rent homes.