According to one study, most homebuyers focus more on art and furniture inside a property rather than its structural details.

A new study shows that, when viewing a home that they are considering purchasing, UK buyers focus more on the artworks or pieces of furniture than important structural details. The usual time for a viewing lasts about 49 minutes, with many spending a larger portion of this time on cosmetics rather than actually checking essential aspects like boiler condition or damp.

When people go to view a house with the intention of buying it, they tend to pay more attention to unimportant things like artwork or furniture rather than the important, structural features that make up that home. One study indicates that an average person will view a property for about 49 minutes before making an offer to buy. This research was conducted by property website Zoopla in association with tech firm Tobii, which developed special glasses monitoring exactly what a person is looking at when viewing a house.

It found that most purchasers are really very decisive. One in five homebuyers spends less than 20 minutes looking at a house before deciding to put in an offer. On average, people view a property only 2.1 times before making their decision. This means that at the average UK house price of around £291,268, each minute of decision-making is worth just under £6,000!

When people view a house, they would normally notice things that are not fixed. For instance, they would look at the pictures on the wall or they would examine the furniture. About 37% would look more intently at the furniture, while 14% will even open drawers and cupboards. Some buyers might check the bed and sofa for comfort. Things like the condition of the boiler, water pressure, or even wifi strength are simply not on people’s radar. Only 50% of buyers check the condition of the boiler; fewer check water pressure or wifi strength.

The Zoopla study used special glasses to track exactly what buyers were looking at. The results returned that buyers normally looked at decorative items—mirrors, plants, and artwork—instead of looking at the more important structural elements. For instance, in the case of a living room, more eyes were spent on the coat rack, rug, and ornaments compared to looking at the ceiling, flooring, or walls. It should be noted that buyers seldom looked at the ceiling in the bathroom, where dampness and condensation are most likely to occur. In fact, the viewing time for the ceiling was the lowest, at 0.34 seconds.

It is a study which very clearly has represented that buyers are more concerned about the decoration of the house with the construction part. People waste a lot of time emphasizing things like taking photos of their families and home technologies, which may not be so important in the long run. According to Daniel Copley, a consumer expert at Zoopla, buyers should have an up-close look at all parts of the house. This would be instrumental in helping one avoid problems and expenses thereafter if the parts were observed prudently. “It’s important to check everything thoroughly to save time and money in the future,” he said.

A survey carried out as part of the study showed a quarter of people consider the pictures of the family living in the house, with 24% taking notice of the technology in the home – both of these could give the buyer some idea about the feel of the home, but neither would inform them about any dampness or the general state of systems such as heating.

This research has shown overall that the majority of homebuyers are more attracted to the cosmetic features of a house rather than its structural components. The reason could be that decorative things are visible in the first glance and give an overview of the home style and character. Nevertheless, the buyers must keep in mind the assessment of condition of major systems and the problems in the making, which in the long run may save the buyers from expensive repair and issues.

Try to strike balance in viewing a home next time, that is, take keen attention not only in the decoration but also in other crucial structural components. That way, you will be sure to make an informed decision about finding a beautiful home that is also in great condition.