Whos Really Making the Decisions Anyway

September 24, 2009

 

Women! Believe it or not guys, it is the women who make their minds up quickest when it comes to home-buying.

When it comes to knowing the home is right for them, 70% of women say they made up their minds the day they walked through the door. This is in contrast to on 62% of the men who can attest to the same decision making power.

Conversely, significantly more men needed two or more visits: 32% of men, 23% of women.

The study completed by International Communications Research, found that men and women actually agree on some things. As example; both men and women are increasingly concerned with having space to work in their homes something we would not have seen 40 years ago. Also feeling insecure about the homes safety is a deal-breaker regardless of gender.

Some of the differences were:

* 55% of the women would rather live closer to their extended family than their job compared to 37% of the men.

* 64% of women said that even if they found the home of their dreams and there turned out to be concerns about its security, they would walk away from a deal. Only 51% of the men held the same conviction.

* when asked who wore the financial pants in the household when it came to purchasing a home; 70% said it was a mutual decision, while 26% of the men said it was the women and conversely 20% of the women said it was the men who wore the pants.

* when asked what they would do with the extra 12 x 12 room, both genders agreed; 25% bedroom, 15% study/office, 11% family room. Four times as many men saw the room as a recreation/entertainment room as their female counterparts.

These results validate the need to recognize differences in needs between men and women when it comes to housing.