A YORK buildings surveyor is urging people in the city to take more care when buying a home.

Jon Charters-Reid, managing director of Charters Reid Surveyors is highlighting the result of a survey which found that people typically spend just 33 minutes looking around a property before deciding to buy.

The research, based on 4,000 home owners and commissioned by Aviva, suggested that the strong competition seen in the housing market is forcing some buyers to make snap decisions with one in four saying they only made one viewing before deciding to buy.

Mr Charters-Reid, who has been operating in York, Scarborough and Harrogate for around 15 years, said: "Buying a house is an emotional decision, but regardless of the market, you can't put a price on peace of mind.

"A building survey carried out by a professional building surveyor takes the risks out of buying a house helping to inform a buyer about the property's condition and minimising any risks later down the line."

The survey also found that home owners typically spent around £1,000 more than they had expected on repairs and getting their new home up to scratch, once they had moved in.