One in five won’t exchange on Friday 13th
New survey shows impact of superstition on buyer actions
Estate agents’ phones might be quiet this Friday, as a new survey from Barratt Homes reveals what prospective buyers might hold off doing on Friday 13th.
Its survey of 1,000 adults in the UK found that one in five (20%) would delay exchanging contracts if the date fell on Friday the 13. Meanwhile, 17% would postpone completing the purchase and the same amount would delay moving into the property.
When it comes to offers, 16% would put off accepting an offer and 12% would avoid submitting an offer.
The survey showed it wasn’t just Friday 13th that affected superstitious buyers. More than half of respondents (54%) said they would be put off buying a property if they had a bad feeling while inside it, and almost two-fifths (39%) would be deterred if the home was reportedly haunted. Two-thirds of women (67%) would be put off a property if they had a bad feeling when inside it, versus 41% of men.
Other superstitions that could impact the decision to buy included a mirror breaking during the viewing (18%); a black cat crossing their path (12%); walking under a ladder (9%) and seeing a single magpie (5%).
Meanwhile, while half (52%) said buying a property numbered 13 wouldn’t affect their buying choices, 12% wouldn’t do so under any circumstances. 19% said they would consider it if the property was otherwise perfect, and just over one in ten (11%) said the same if it was cheaper than other similar properties.
Price reductions wanted
The idea of a price reduction to account for their superstitious beliefs was high. 41% of respondents would want some form of discount before buying a property they believed was unlucky or haunted, with 22% wanting a reduction of between 6% and 20%, while almost one in five (18%) said they would not buy the property at any price. Just 23% would not expect a discount.
More than a quarter (26%) of women said they would not buy an unlucky or haunted property at any price, compared with 10% of men.
Sam Wood, sales director at Barratt Homes Yorkshire West, said: “Many of us have experienced that moment when we walk into a property and it either feels right, or it doesn’t. Our research shows that these feelings, along with seemingly small superstitions, can influence one of the biggest financial decisions people make.
“There is no concrete evidence to suggest that exchanging contracts, completing, or moving on Friday the 13th will affect how smoothly the process goes. However, buying a home is both a practical and emotional decision, so it is natural for people to trust their instincts and make choices that help the process feel less stressful, superstitious or otherwise.”
Kindly shared by EstateAgentTODAY image courtesy of Adobe
