Research to Inform the Five Year Review of the Home Report

Appendix E - Prospective Buyers and Sellers Survey Topline Results

5 Year Review of the Home Report
Prospective buyers and sellers topline results

Results are based on a survey of 133 respondents conducted using exit face to face survey. The survey was conducted between 4 October and 9 November 2014.

An asterisk (*) indicates a percentage of less than 0.5% but greater than zero. Where percentages do not add up to 100, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of don't know categories.

Asterisks on bases (*/**) highlight small/very small base sizes. Where base sizes are too small, actual figures have been reported rather than percentages.

Q1. Are you thinking of buying or selling a property within the next 12 months?

Base: All respondents (133)	%
Yes- buying a property	49
Yes- selling a property	11
Yes- both buying and selling	41
No-neither buying nor selling	-
Not stated	-

Q2. Have you bought or sold a property in the last 5 years?

Base: All respondents (133)	%
Yes	28
No	47
Not stated	26

Q3.You said you were thinking of buying a property within the next 12 months; what type of purchase will this be?

Base: potential buyers (119)	%
A first time home purchase	13
A buy-to-let property	10
A purchase after selling my previous home	52
A second or holiday home purchase	5
Other	19
Not stated	-

Q.4 What stage would you say that you are at in the buying process?

Base: potential buyers (119)	%
I am at the browsing stage (e.g. looking online or at an estate agent's property centre/solicitor)	57
I am viewing properties	41
I am checking Home Reports on properties	17
I have talked with a mortgage broker	2
I have placed an offer	8
I am finalising paperwork	5
Not stated	2

Q.5 How much do you know about Home Reports?

Base: potential buyers (119)	%
I know what is covered in a Home Report in detail	50
I know what is covered in a Home Report but not in detail	25
I know what a Home Report is used for but I do not know what it covers	8
I have heard of Home Reports but know nothing about them	14
I have never heard of Home Reports	3
Don't know	-
Not stated	1

Q6. Who do you think is responsible for getting a Home Report completed?

Base: potential buyers who are aware of the Home Report (98*)	Actual
The buyer	-
The seller	95
Other	1
Don't know	2
Not stated	-

Q7. What impact do you think the Home Report has had on your level of confidence in the buying process

Base: potential buyers who are aware of the Home Report (98*)	Actual
It has increased my confidence	38
It has made no difference	21
It has decreased my confidence	4
I have not looked at a home report yet	35
Don't know	-
Not stated	-

Q8. In your search for a property, how many Home Reports have you viewed?

Base: potential buyers who have looked at a Home Report (63*)	Actual
1	5
2	9
3	6
4	4
5+	39
None	-
Don't know	-
Not stated	-

Q9. Thinking about the information provided in the Home Report, was it…?

Base: potential buyers who have looked at a Home Report (63*)	Actual
The right amount	30
Too much information	9
Not enough information	17
Don't know	6
Not stated	1

Q10. What changes, if any, would you like to see to the information provided in the Home Report?

Base: potential buyers who have looked at a Home Report (63*)	Actual
More detailed/comprehensive information regarding the condition of the property (single survey)	8
A more professional/ accountable single survey	6
More comprehensive/ in-depth information in the Home Report	6
More concise information in the Home Report	6
More basic/ simple/ clear information, less jargon in Home Report	5
More accurate/ reliable/ honest information regarding condition of fixture/ fittings (single survey)	4
Fewer disclaimers/ unable to access certain areas mentions (single survey)	3
More detailed information regarding faults/ repairs (single survey)	3
More professional/ accountable Home Report	2
More structural information/ provide certificates for building work (property questionnaire)	2
Better classification of repairs (single survey)	1
Less of a tick-box exercise (single survey)	1
More accurate/ reliable/ honest Home Report	1
More condensed/ briefer energy report	1
More details of electrical system/ boiler tests/ plumbing etc.	1
The Home Report is of no value/ should be stopped	1
Waste of time	1
Waste of money	1
There should be no changes	7
Other	19
Don't know	4
No answer	1
Not stated	8

Q11. The single survey includes an audit of accessible features useful for older and disabled people, and parents with young children. How important or unimportant is this information to you when making decisions about the process of buying a property.

Base: potential buyers who have looked at a Home Report (63*)	Actual
Very important	13
Fairly important	13
Neither important nor unimportant	12
Fairly unimportant	8
Very unimportant	12
I was not aware that this information was included in the Home Report	4
I don't know	-
Not stated	1

Q12. How much impact has the following sections of the Home Report(s) had on the decisions you have made in the process of buying a property? A)The single survey

Base: potential buyers who have looked at a Home Report (63*)	Actual
A great deal	14
A fair amount	22
Not very much	12
None at all	9
Don't know	5
Not present	-
Not stated	1

Q12. How much impact has the following sections of the Home Report(s) had on the decisions you have made in the process of buying a property? B)The energy report

Base: potential buyers who have looked at a Home Report (63*)	Actual
A great deal	4
A fair amount	18
Not very much	27
None at all	10
Don't know	2
Not present	-
Not stated	2

Q12. How much impact has the following sections of the Home Report(s) had on the decisions you have made in the process of buying a property? C)The property questionnaire

Base: potential buyers who have looked at a Home Report (63*)	Actual
A great deal	10
A fair amount	20
Not very much	14
None at all	11
Don't know	7
Not present	-
Not stated	1

Q12. How much impact has the following sections of the Home Report(s) had on the decisions you have made in the process of buying a property? D)The valuation

Base: potential buyers who have looked at a Home Report (63*)	Actual
A great deal	27
A fair amount	21
Not very much	4
None at all	7
Don't know	2
Not present	-
Not stated	2

Q13. (Explanation of Home Report)… Do you think viewing a Home report would make you more or less confident about the property buying process?

Base: potential buyers who are unaware of the Home Report (21**)	Actual
More confident	5
Less confident	1
Would make no difference	7
Don't know	6
Not stated	2

Q14. Why do you say that?

Base: potential buyers who think that the Home Report will change their confidence level in the buying process (6**)	Actual
The more information the better	4
Other	2
Not stated	-

Q15. Who would you go to for advice about the Home Report?

Base: potential buyers who are unaware of the Home Report (21**)	Actual
Solicitor	10
Family/ friends	5
Surveyor	5
Estate agent	3
Don't know	2
Not stated	2

Q16. You said you were thinking of selling a property within the next 12 months; what stage would you say you were in the selling process?

Base: potential sellers (68*)	Actual
I am at the thinking stage	29
The property is on the market	22
I have talked with an estate agent (or property centre/solicitor)	14
I have commissioned a Home Report	10
I have accepted an offer	4
I am considering offers	-
Not stated	2

Q17. How much do you know about the Home Report?

Base: potential sellers (68*)	Actual
I know what is covered in a Home Report in detail	35
I know what is covered in a Home Report but not in detail	18
I know what a Home Report is used for but I do not know what it covers	4
I have heard of Home Reports but know nothing about them	7
I have never heard of Home Reports	-
Don't know	2
Not stated	2

Q18. Who do you think is responsible for commissioning a Home Report?

Base: potential sellers, excluding buyers who are aware of the Home Report (12**)	Actual
The buyer	-
The seller	11
Other	-
Don't know	-
Not stated	1

Q19. Have you commissioned a Home Report for your property?

Base: potential sellers, excluding buyers who are aware of the Home Report (12**)	Actual
Yes	27
No	28
Don't know	-
Not stated	2

Q20. How much would you expect to pay for a Home Report on your property?

Base: potential sellers who have not commissioned a Home Report (30*)	Actual
Up to £200	1
£201- £300	2
£301- £400	5
£401- £500	10
£501- £600	4
£601- £700	-
£701- £800	2
£801- £1,000	-
Over £1,000	-
Don't know/ don't remember	4
Not stated	2

Q21. A Home Report typically costs the seller between £300 and £800. To what extent would the cost of the Home Report deter you from putting your property on the market?

Base: potential sellers who have not commissioned a Home Report (30*)	Actual
A lot	3
A little	5
Not at all	20
Don't know	-
Not stated	2

Q22. How much did you pay for a Home Report on your property?

Base: potential sellers who have not commissioned a Home Report (30*)	Actual
Up to £200	-
£201- £300	4
£301- £400	4
£401- £500	6
£501- £600	4
£601- £700	2
£701- £800	1
£801- £1,000	1
Over £1,000	-
Don't know/ don't remember	1
Not stated	4

Q23. Did the results of the Home Report affect your decision to put your property on the market?

Base: potential sellers who have commissioned a Home Report (27**)	Actual
Yes, it made me unsure about the decision to sell my property	5
Yes, it made me more sure about the decision to sell my property	3
No, it made no difference at all	16
Don't know	-
Not stated	3

Q24. Why do you say that?

Base: potential sellers whose decision to put their home on the market was affected by the Home Report (8**)	Actual
Yes, inaccurate valuation of the properties	2
Had no choice/ had to put the property on the market /property is up for sale	-
Other	7
No answer	-
Not stated	1

Q25. Did the Home Report highlight any repairs or replacements needed on your property?

Base: potential sellers who have commissioned a Home Report (27**)	Actual
Yes	12
No	11
Don't know	-
Not stated	4

Q26. Have you completed these repairs?

Base: potential sellers whose Home Report highlighted repairs (12**)	Actual
Yes	5
No, but I intend to	2
No, I do not intend to	4
Don't know	-
Not stated	1

Q27. Did the Home Report affect the price you thought you would market your property at?

Base: potential sellers who have commissioned a Home Report (27**)	Actual
Yes, I increased the price	2
Yes, I decreased the price	8
No, it made no difference	13
Don't know	-
Not stated	4

Q28. How did the information in the Home Report affect your level of confidence in the selling process?

Base: potential sellers who have commissioned a Home Report (27**)	Actual
It made me more confident	7
It made me less confident	6
It had no effect	10
Don't know	-
Not stated	4

Q29. Thinking about the amount of information provided in the Home Report, was it… ?

Base: potential sellers who have commissioned a Home Report (27**)	Actual
The right amount	10
Not enough information	6
Too much information	4
Don't know	2
Not stated	5

Q30. (Explanation of Home Report)… Do you think viewing a Home report would make you more or less confident about the property selling process?

Base: potential sellers who are unaware of the Home Report (11**)	Actual
More confident	3
Less confident	-
Would have no effect	3
Don't know	-
Not stated	5

Q31. Why do you say that?

Base: potential sellers who think that the Home Report will change their confidence level in the buying process (3**)	Actual
More information	2
Other	1
Not stated	-

Q32. Who would seek advice from about the Home Report?

Base: potential sellers who are unaware of the Home Report (11**)	Actual
Solicitor	5
Estate agent	1
Surveyor	1
Family/ friends	-
Don't know	1
Not stated	5

Q33. After hearing about the Home Report, do you think it would make you more or less likely to market your property?

Base: potential sellers who are unaware of the Home Report (11**)	Actual
More likely	1
Less likely	-
Would have no impact	4
Don't know	1
Not stated	5

Q34. Why do you say that?

Base: potential sellers who are unaware of the Home Report (1**)	Actual
Other	-
Not stated	1

Q35. A Home Report costs between £300 and £800. To what extent would the cost of the Home Report deter you from putting your property on the market?

Base: potential sellers who are unaware of the Home Report (11**)	Actual
A lot	-
A little	1
Not at all	3
Don't know	-
Not stated	7