The traditional autumn surge in property market activity could be delayed this year, with research suggesting the return to school may leave parents with less time to search for homes, attend viewings and progress purchases.

Research by House Buyer Bureau found that 88% of homebuyers with school-aged children expect to be less inclined to book or attend property viewings during the first few weeks of the new school term.

The survey of 824 current homebuyers with school-aged children, commissioned by ProperPR on behalf of House Buyer Bureau through consumer research platform FindOutNow, found that 86% expect to spend less time actively searching for a property because of school-related commitments.

Just 8% expect to dedicate the same amount of time to their search, while 6% expect to spend more.

The impact is expected to be particularly pronounced at the viewing stage, with 88% saying they are likely to be less inclined to book or attend viewings during the first few weeks of term.

Childcare arrangements are expected to be the biggest barrier to property searches and viewings, cited by 24% of respondents. School drop-offs and pick-ups followed closely, at 22%.

A further 13% said after-school clubs and activities would make searching for or viewing properties more difficult, while returning to work after the summer holidays, buying school essentials and re-establishing family routines were each cited by 11%.

For buyers who remain active, the time available for in-person viewings is also likely to become more restricted.

School hours are expected to be the easiest time to attend a viewing for 37% of respondents, while 35% favour weekends. One in five said evenings would be most convenient, with just 8% choosing after-school hours.

The findings also point to greater reliance on digital property marketing during the back-to-school period. Almost four in five buyers (79%) expect to make greater use of online listings, virtual tours or video viewings because attending properties in person will be more difficult.

The disruption may extend beyond the first few days of the new school year. Four in five respondents (80%) said they would consider delaying a viewing for a property they were interested in because of school-related commitments.

The return to school could also affect buyers who have already found a property. Some 92% expect school-related commitments to significantly slow the progress of their purchase, making it harder to deal with calls, paperwork, surveys, mortgage appointments and other transaction-related tasks.

Three quarters of respondents (75%) expect it to take more than a month after the start of the school term before they can give their property search their full attention again.

Just 12% expect to be back up to speed within the first week, while 8% expect it to take two to three weeks and 5% around a month.

Chris Hodgkinson, managing director of House Buyer Bureau, said September traditionally marks the point at which the property market begins to recover from the summer holidays, but that parents can have little time available for house hunting once schools return.

“What really stands out is that this may not be a short-lived blip,” he said. “Three quarters of parents believe it could take more than a month before they can give their property search their full attention again, potentially delaying the usual autumn uplift in activity.”

Hodgkinson added that motivated buyers were expected to return as the disruption of the new school year subsided, but warned sellers not to assume that the usual autumn activity would materialise immediately.

“For those who need to sell quickly, a few quieter weeks can make a considerable difference,” he said.