Three-quarters of homebuyers conduct property searches after 5pm when most estate agency offices are closed, according to research by Street.co.uk.
A survey of 1,073 people who purchased property in the past year found that 40% were most likely to browse between 5pm and 8pm, whilst a further 35% searched after 8pm.
Weekend searches also proved popular, with Saturday the most common day for property hunting, cited by 29% of respondents, followed by Sunday at 27%. A further 20% favoured Friday, meaning 76% were most likely to search between Friday and Sunday.
Demand for digital functionality
The findings indicate buyers want immediate action when they find a property, regardless of the time. Some 86% expect to be able to submit an enquiry immediately, whilst 69% believe agents should offer more online functionality outside office hours than a simple email enquiry form.
Desired features include checking viewing availability, booking appointments, receiving enquiry confirmations, requesting a call and rearranging or cancelling viewings. The trend mirrors broader shifts in the property market towards digital engagement, which has transformed how buyers interact with agents.
Technology could help meet these expectations, with 88% of respondents believing AI-powered tools should enable agents to provide more services outside conventional working hours. Checking viewing availability, booking appointments and confirming enquiries were among the tasks buyers were most comfortable completing through an AI-powered assistant.
Industry implications
Heather Staff, co-CEO of Street Group, said: “The answer isn’t for estate agents to work every evening and weekend. Modern consumer-facing technology, AI and automation can bridge that gap, allowing buyers to make an enquiry, check viewing availability or book an appointment when the office is closed, while ensuring the agent has the information they need to pick up and progress that conversation.”
The findings suggest estate agents may need to adapt their service delivery models to accommodate changing buyer behaviour patterns. With the majority of property searches occurring outside traditional business hours, the gap between buyer activity and agent availability could represent a competitive disadvantage for agencies without digital infrastructure.
The research was carried out by ProperPR on behalf of Street Group through consumer research platform Find Out Now. The timing of property searches may also reflect broader working patterns, as buyers increasingly conduct research during evenings and weekends whilst balancing professional commitments.
