"Relocating more than 50 miles away without really knowing an area can seem crazy to some, but it's the reality of today’s market, with many buyers forced to look further afield to find a home that suits their size, budget, or lifestyle needs"
- Steve Foreman - The Property DriveBuy
Nearly half of homebuyers move into areas they know little about before making their purchase, according to new research from The Property DriveBuy.
The study, based on a survey of over 1,000 recent UK homebuyers, revealed that more than one in five visited their chosen area fewer than three times before buying. Around one in five respondents moved more than 50 miles away from their previous home, while 12% relocated between 11 and 25 miles and 7% moved between 26 and 50 miles.
The most common motivations for moving such distances were the search for larger or more suitable properties (37%), lifestyle preferences such as coastal or countryside living (24%), and a wish to be closer to family and friends (19%).
Almost half of buyers, 47%, admitted they were not familiar with their new area. Around 19% said they only visited once or twice before purchasing, while 22% only visited to attend viewings.
When deciding where to buy, most respondents, 58%, relied on online property portals such as Rightmove. A smaller proportion turned to recommendations from family or friends (16%) or researched lifestyle aspects of different locations (13%). Only 4% drew on the advice of a local estate agent, underlining the influence of digital search tools.
Despite the limited knowledge many buyers had of their chosen area, the majority were content with their decision. Some 77% reported being happier since relocating, though 23% suggested they would take more time and care with their search in the future.
“Relocating more than 50 miles away without really knowing an area can seem crazy to some, but it's the reality of today’s market, with many buyers forced to look further afield to find a home that suits their size, budget, or lifestyle needs,” explained Steve Foreman, founder and CEO of The Property DriveBuy.
“The problem is that the restrictive search functions of traditional portals mean buyers often miss out on properties that would be perfect for them in areas they haven’t even thought to search. When you only visit a new neighbourhood once or twice before buying, it’s easy to overlook the right home altogether."
"That’s why geo-location search is changing the way we search for a new home. By letting buyers discover properties listed for sale as they travel through different areas, it ensures they don’t miss opportunities that could be ideal. For home movers, this means less time wasted, more options uncovered, and a greater chance of finding not just the right house, but the right place to call home.”
