The process of finding and buying a house or apartment is laden with excitement and emotion, from the first viewing of your dream first home, to having an offer accepted and moving in.

But what in particular makes stepping onto the first rung of the property ladder such a, well, moving experience? 

We surveyed almost 2,000 home movers to explore how people feel about their homes and what it means to move.  

For first-time buyers, the desire to connect to a property was particularly clear. 

Despite a tougher economic backdrop and the detailed financial considerations that go into purchasing a home, it is evident that emotional ties still come out top when it comes to why and when we move, as well as where we move to. 

When asked what aspect of moving they were most excited about, first-time buyers said it was ‘having somewhere to call their own’ (47 per cent), ahead of investing money in the property they own (30 per cent). For 1 in 6 (15 per cent) the answer was finally being able to decorate their home exactly how they want. 

The simple things that make a house a home 

According to our research, first-time buyers are the group with the strongest emotional connection to their home (71 per cent vs 63 per cent across all home movers). 

For the majority taking their first step onto the property ladder (60 per cent), it took just a couple of months for their new place to feel like home, but for a fifth (19 per cent), it felt like home from the moment they stepped through the door. 

And it’s the simple things that make all the difference. Almost half (46 per cent) said that they would simply need to unpack photos, plants and books to achieve that homely feeling, while a fifth (21 per cent) will settle for unpacking the kettle and serving up their first cup of tea or coffee.  

In terms of physical changes, the majority of first-time buyers (41 per cent) agreed that moving their own furniture into the property was the most important step in making their new house feel like home, followed by hanging personal pictures. Just 13 per cent thought it was vital to re-paint the walls, and a further 13 per cent felt full renovation works would be key. 

But for 1 in 10 (11 per cent) nothing needed to be done at all – it was perfect from the moment they stepped through the door.

Further information

Contact Frances McDonald