The 200-Day home buying slog and why Buyers still feel powerless

We all know it takes too long to buy a home. The industry is now averaging over 200 days from listing to completion and that number isn’t going down.

As a buyer, that wait isn’t just frustrating, it’s exhausting. You spend months in limbo, juggling paperwork, chasing progress, unsure what’s actually happening behind the scenes. And in most cases, you're left relying on other people to move things forward: agents, solicitors, surveyors… all moving to their own rhythm, not yours.

To be fair, the property industry does see this as a problem. There are a growing number of platforms out there trying to “streamline” the process. They talk about speed, transparency, and reducing friction and to some degree, they’re succeeding.

But look closely and you'll see something: most of these tools are designed for agents, not buyers.

Which makes commercial sense. Agents handle volume. If you’re building software, they’re an obvious customer base. But it also means we’ve doubled down on a system where the buyer remains the most affected, yet the least empowered.

That’s the part we can’t ignore anymore.

The issue isn’t just how long it takes. It’s who’s in control.

Buyers don’t get access to progress updates unless someone decides to pass them on. They don’t have a clear, step-by-step view of what happens next. And when things stall, it’s rarely obvious why — or who needs to act.

Now imagine it differently.

Imagine you knew exactly where your transaction stood at any time — not in vague estate agent terms like “it’s with the solicitor”, but in clear milestones: searches submitted

, mortgage valuation booked, draft contract sent. Imagine your own checklist, tailored to your situation, with nudges that help you stay ahead. Imagine feeling like you were the one keeping things moving — not waiting for permission to do so.

It’s not a radical idea. It’s just overdue.

Agent platforms aren’t the enemy — they’re just not the whole solution.

To be clear: we’re not saying agent tools shouldn’t exist. They’re an important part of the ecosystem. And maybe, one day, some of them will pivot to give buyers the transparency and control they deserve. They’d be smart to do so.

But until then, we’re not waiting.

I’m Buying is being built to fill that gap — giving buyers the tools, the visibility, and the confidence to navigate their own journey. We believe the person with the most at stake should have more than just a reference number and a vague timeline.

Because in 2025, buying a home shouldn't feel like handing over the wheel and hoping for the best.

Join us