A survey of more than 5,000 UK-based agents found that a majority of 74% chose ‘lack of speed of the transaction’ as their most significant stumbling block.

Over 40% of respondents taking part in the study, undertaken by OneDome, found that a ‘lack of the control’ was the second most important problem they face.

Almost half of all agents who responded said this was the least important area, when assessing priorities for improvement.

OneDome says that its survey findings echo those of recent research commissioned by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BIS/283). This was a survey of recent homebuyers and sellers, conducted to obtain a detailed and measured understanding of the challenges that they face.

Over half of buyers – 59% – and sellers – 57% – found the process of buying and selling a home longer than they expected. Indeed, around one in four found it much longer than expected.

Furthermore, when expressly asked what could be improved in the homebuying process, the most common area identified was the speed of service. Some 34% of buyers and 31% of sellers chose this.

Below are the results of OneDome’ s survey in full. This ranks the most important challenges related to property transactions, according to estate agents surveyed