Most homebuyers do not rush into committing to the purchase of a property but rather make a considered and informed decision, the Ombudsman for Estate Agents has stated.

The comments from the professional organisation come after a study undertaken by the insurance firm ING Direct concluded that buyers spend an average of just 17 minutes in choosing whether to buy a potential new home, with such snap decisions largely the result of increased competition within the property market.

According to Bill McClintock, the chief operating officer at the Ombudsman for Estate Agents, fast decisions are rare, with the majority of buyers preferring to mull the matter over and conduct extensive research prior to making any commitment.

"People might make a quick decision but I don''t think they make a quick decision unless they have done a lot of work beforehand, to work out the sort of property they really want," he stated.

While strong demand for homes may pressure buyers into hurrying their decisions, this is likely to have lessened as the housing market has "gone off the boil" recently, Mr McClintock added.