Rightmove: Home buying an 'emotional' process

The choice of a property in the present turbulent market is an "emotional" process, according to RightMove.co.uk.

While traditional factors, such as proximity to amenities, security and education remain important, buyers can become "emotionally attached to a property" in today's market.

"While there are basic rules about house buying, emotion comes into it an awful lot when people are emotionally attached to a property and it creates a good impression on them when they go and look at it," said Miles Shipman, commercial director at RightMove.

The remarks are supported by the findings of a Nationwide survey, published in April 2007, which shows 97 per cent of people thought that a location in a pleasant neighbourhood was important.

A good school catchment area was rated important for 41 per cent of people and 65 per cent thought the likelihood of future house price rises was an important factor when buying a house.

"The proximity to key locations, which might be school or workplace, tends to be the main driver," continued Mr Shipside.

"Having decided on the area - and therefore the radius that you can live in from those key amenities - people will obviously look at the style of properties in that area, features and security."

Yorkshire Bank’s house buyers survey, published in March 2008, shows 74 per cent of people value a neighbourhood watch scheme and 54 per cent of first-time buyers would pay more for a property that has in an area that has a 'strong sense of community'.

"Properties hit different hotspots for different reasons or sometimes people don’t really work out what they want until they’ve viewed a lot of properties," explained Mr Shipside.

"There are certain basic criteria in terms of price, location, transport and travelling distances to local amenities that are particularly important."