The home-buying process in the UK is broken. For too long, buying a home has been synonymous with stress, delays, and unnecessary expense. The average transaction takes months to complete, with buyers and sellers left in the dark for weeks at a time, unsure of where their purchase or sale stands. It’s a system that frustrates clients, damages our reputation as an industry, and ultimately holds back the housing market.
The government has recently acknowledged the problem, pledging to digitise key areas of the process to streamline transactions. While this is a step in the right direction, we cannot afford to sit back and wait for policymakers to force change upon us. The responsibility to fix this broken system lies with us—the agents, conveyancers, lenders, and innovators who make up the property industry.
The truth is the technology to transform home buying already exists. OneDome is already £11m of investment into bringing together every stage of the transaction into one seamless, digital experience.
We are not the only ones though. Other newer players in this area are also beginning to emerge and are building technology that brings the whole journey together.
From property search to conveyancing, mortgage applications to exchange, the tools are there to make the process faster, cheaper, and far less stressful for everyone involved.
So why aren’t we all using them?
The answer lies in our industry’s resistance to change. For decades, we’ve operated in silos, with each party in the transaction working independently, often using outdated methods that create inefficiencies and delays. We’ve grown accustomed to the status quo, even as it frustrates our clients and tarnishes our reputation. But in a world where consumers expect instant access to information and seamless digital experiences, we can no longer afford to cling to outdated practices.
The time has come for us to embrace innovation and take ownership of the problems in our industry. This isn’t just about adopting new technology—it’s about changing our mindset. We need to prioritise collaboration over competition, transparency over opacity, and progress over inertia. By working together and leveraging the tools already available, we can create a home-buying process that works for everyone.
Imagine a world where buyers can track their purchases in real-time, where sellers can see exactly where their sales stand, and where agents can focus on building relationships rather than chasing updates. This isn’t a distant dream—it’s a reality that’s within our grasp if we’re willing to take action.
The government’s plans to digitise the process are a welcome step, but they won’t be enough on their own. Real change will only happen if we, as an industry, take the lead. We need to be proactive in adopting new technology, educating our clients, and pushing for a more efficient, transparent system.
The home-buying process is broken, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the opportunity to fix it. Let’s not wait for someone else to do it for us. Let’s take responsibility, embrace innovation, and show the world that our industry is capable of change. After all, our clients deserve nothing less.
The question is: are we ready to step up?
