Estate agents spend more than a third of their working day chasing updates and other parties involved in property transactions, new research reveals.

Landmark Information Group found that agents, conveyancers and lenders estimate spending 34% of their working time following up on outstanding information and responding to enquiries.

Meanwhile, 74% say rising transaction fall-through rates are significantly affecting business performance.

The findings highlight the administrative burden facing property professionals as delays and poor communication continue to disrupt sales.

Agent frustration over delays grows

Transaction timescales remain the biggest frustration for estate agents.

Some 41% cited lengthy transactions as a major concern, up from 32% in Landmark’s 2025 research.

Meanwhile, frustration with poor communication between parties has almost doubled, rising from 19% to 36%.

Across the wider property industry, 72% identified improvements to upfront information as a way to increase productivity.

A further 67% pointed to better communication and visibility throughout transactions.

Buyers want information before making offers

The research also found that 73% of recent home movers wished they had known more about a property or its location before making or accepting an offer.

More than two-thirds (67%) experienced uncertainty or delays after agreeing a sale.

Among those affected, 52% reported increased stress, while 46% struggled to plan their moving date.

A further 33% faced additional costs or disruption to their finances.

Almost all respondents (95%) believed access to key property information at the point of listing would reduce stress.

Meanwhile, 92% wanted estate agents, conveyancers and lenders to work from the same information.

Ben Robinson, managing director of Landmark Estate Agency Services, said agents could help address these problems earlier.

“Too often, essential information is still being gathered after a buyer has made an offer, leaving agents managing expectations and resolving problems that could have been identified much earlier.”

He argued that preparing properties for sale before marketing could reduce problems later in the transaction.

Industry braces for homebuying reforms

The findings come as the government prepares changes to the homebuying and selling process.

More than four in five property professionals (81%) believe meaningful reform is overdue.

Some 71% expect earlier buyer and seller commitments to bring significant or moderate operational changes.

Meanwhile, 67% anticipate similar changes from standardised upfront property information.

However, 68% believe there is already enough clarity for businesses to start preparing.

Conveyancing enquiries fall

There are signs of improvement in the information reaching conveyancers.

The proportion of cases requiring additional enquiries because of missing or inaccurate information has fallen from an estimated 51% in 2024 to 33% this year.

Meanwhile, 77% of conveyancers believe better upfront information could improve productivity and business performance.

Landmark surveyed 500 people who had bought or sold a property during the previous 18 months. It also questioned 250 estate agents, conveyancers and mortgage lenders.

The findings appear in its report.