Research by Aldermore revealed that, in particular, liaising with estate agents takes much longer than people expect.
According to Aldermore’s latest First Time Buyer Index, prospective first time buyers are underestimating how long the homebuying process will take by nearly five months.
Jon Cooper, director of mortgages at Aldermore, comments: “For brokers, helping clients navigate the home buying process is about more than just securing a mortgage, it's about guiding them through a potentially complex and lengthy journey.
"First-time buyers often underestimate the time involved, especially when dealing with solicitors, estate agents, and unexpected issues like survey-related repairs. This can lead to delays that frustrate eager buyers.
“In order to help speed up the homebuying process, it’s definitely worth using a broker. Their expertise can help streamline the mortgage process by filling out paperwork and forms on your behalf, as well as scanning the market for the most appropriate mortgage deals, all of which can be very time-consuming.”