The home-buying process remains one of life’s most stressful experiences despite the emotional rewards of moving according to new research from NatWest and Rightmove.
The study found that 85% of movers describe moving home as stressful, with poor communication, delays and uncertainty emerging as the biggest causes of anxiety during the process.
However, the research also highlighted the strong emotional appeal of moving, with nearly half of respondents saying finding the right home was the happiest part of the journey, while 47% cited getting more space or upgrading to a better property as a key motivation.
Having an offer accepted and collecting the keys were also ranked among the most joyful milestones.
DIGITAL MORTGAGE DECISIONS
The findings come as NatWest and Rightmove expand their partnership aimed at speeding up the mortgage process and reducing uncertainty for buyers. NatWest is now offering fully digital mortgage decisions in principle through Rightmove, with some eligible borrowers able to receive a formal mortgage offer within 24 hours.
The research suggests that certainty and clearer communication are becoming just as important to buyers as affordability itself.
Poor communication between parties was identified as the biggest stress point by 51% of respondents, followed by finding the right property (47%) and the logistics of moving day (44%).
Property chains continue to create major pressure, with 38% saying chains increase stress levels, while one in five struggle to understand the true cost of moving. Among buyers aged 18 to 34, that figure rises to 35%.
Rightmove data shows the average home move now takes between seven and eight months to complete, with conveyancing alone averaging 164 days nationally and as long as 181 days in London and the East of England.
MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS
Matt Smith (main picture, inset) Mortgage Expert at Rightmove, says: “For many people, the most stressful part of moving home isn’t the decision to move, it’s the uncertainty that comes with it, particularly around affordability. That’s why greater clarity earlier in the journey can make such a difference.
“Being able to understand your borrowing position quickly, clearly and digitally gives buyers confidence to move forward and keeps momentum going at a critical stage of the process. By working closely with NatWest to offer instant decisions in principle and faster mortgage offers for eligible buyers, we’re helping to remove some of the guesswork from home‑buying.
“But it’s about more than affordability alone. We want to build simple, digital solutions that increase transparency, simplify the home-moving process and put people firmly back in control of the moving journey, giving them the confidence to believe they can make their move.”
TRANSPARENT JOURNEY
Barry Connolly, Managing Director of Home Buying and Ownership at NatWest, adds: “We’re always looking at ways to make home ownership more accessible and to reduce stress in what can be one of life’s biggest decisions.
“That’s why we focus on offering innovative mortgage solutions – from our Family Backed Mortgage to Shared Ownership products, alongside a simpler more transparent application process.”
He adds: “More than half of respondents said they would sacrifice lower costs for a faster, more transparent journey – a clear signal that certainty and momentum are just as important to people as affordability.”
Despite the pressures involved, optimism about moving remains strong, with 84% saying they would still consider moving again in the future.
