Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Property Industry Eye. Read the original article for full details.

Research Reveals Sellers Now Expect 24-Hour Responses from Estate Agents

New research from Street Group has found that UK home sellers now expect estate agents to respond, provide updates, and take action within 24 hours at almost every stage of the sales process. The survey, which included 1,830 current and recent home sellers, highlights rising expectations for rapid communication throughout the property transaction journey.

According to the findings, 85% of sellers expect an estate agent to respond to an enquiry about selling their home within 24 hours. One in five sellers believe that waiting longer than four hours is too slow, and only 4% would accept waiting more than two working days.

Expectations for prompt communication continue once a property is on the market. Nearly 80% of sellers expect feedback on viewings within 24 hours, with 12% wanting it within four hours. When prospective buyers raise questions or show interest, 82% of sellers expect to be updated within a day, and almost one in three (30%) expect to hear from their agent within an hour.

The demand for speed is even greater when offers are made. Almost two-thirds (63%) of sellers expect to be informed immediately or within an hour of an offer being received, while 96% expect to be notified the same day.

Communication remains a priority during negotiations, with more than a third (35%) of sellers expecting at least one update every day. A further quarter are satisfied with updates every two to three days, while just under a quarter only want to be contacted when there is significant progress.

After a sale is agreed, expectations for timely communication persist. More than 63% of sellers expect responses to questions or requests for updates on the same working day, and 85% expect a reply within 24 hours.

Street Group stated that these findings reflect the influence of digital services, where rapid responses and real-time updates have become standard for consumers.