NatWest and Rightmove have published data which suggests the emotional reward of finding the right home continues to outweigh the pressures of moving.
The findings show that 85% of people find moving home stressful, with uncertainty during the process emerging as a key source of pressure.
Nearly half of movers questioned said finding the right home was the most joyful moment of the journey, cited by 48%, followed by getting more space or a better property, at 47%.
Other important milestones included having an offer accepted, mentioned by 35%, and picking up the keys to a new property, cited by 34%.
However, 16% of respondents said they found moving home extremely stressful, while only one in 10 said they did not find it stressful at all.
Poor communication between different parties was the most commonly cited source of stress, at 51%, followed by finding the right property at 47% and the logistics of moving day at 44%.
The research also found that 38% of movers said being part of a property chain added strain, while one in five struggled with understanding the true costs involved. Among movers aged 18 to 34, this rose to 35%.
NatWest said it is seeking to reduce uncertainty by offering homebuyers an instant fully digital mortgage decision in principle when they apply via Rightmove. Customers can then complete a full mortgage application online, with eligible buyers receiving an offer within 24 hours.
Rightmove data shows the average time it takes to move home is now between seven and eight months. Conveyancing alone is taking 164 days on average, rising to 181 days in London and the East of England.
Movers said better coordination between professionals, cited by 58%, a quicker conveyancing process, cited by 51%, and clearer timelines at each stage, cited by 44%, would help reduce pressure in the homebuying process.
Barry Connolly, managing director of home buying and ownership at NatWest, said: “We’re always looking at ways to make home ownership more accessible and to reduce stress in what can be one of life’s biggest decisions. That’s why we focus on offering innovative mortgage solutions – from our Family Backed Mortgage to Shared Ownership products, alongside a simpler more transparent application process.
“Helping people feel clearer about their options, more confident about affordability, and better supported at every step.
“More than half of respondents said they would sacrifice lower costs for a faster, more transparent journey – a clear signal that certainty and momentum are just as important to people as affordability.
“When people have the right information and support in place, they can begin to look beyond the process itself and focus on the long-term benefits of finding the right place to call home.”
Matt Smith, mortgage expert at Rightmove, said: “For many people, the most stressful part of moving home isn’t the decision to move, it’s the uncertainty that comes with it, particularly around affordability. That’s why greater clarity earlier in the journey can make such a difference.
“Being able to understand your borrowing position quickly, clearly and digitally gives buyers confidence to move forward and keeps momentum going at a critical stage of the process. By working closely with NatWest to offer instant decisions in principle and faster mortgage offers for eligible buyers, we’re helping to remove some of the guesswork from home-buying.
“But it’s about more than affordability alone. We want to build simple, digital solutions that increase transparency, simplify the home-moving process and put people firmly back in control of the moving journey, giving them the confidence to believe they can make their move.”
Despite the pressures, 84% of respondents said they would still consider moving again. Once settled, 61% said having more space or a better home had contributed most to their wellbeing, while 41% highlighted improved access to nature.
