Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.Data accumulated from Consumers' Association surveys are designed to be used by the consumer. The surveys are, therefore, very specific in nature and the subjects covered diverse. The Data Archive holds 19 such surveys. Readers are asked to note that, with the exception of the surveys on the Telephone Service - 69004, 69016, respondents surveyed are self selected from subscribers to the Association's magazine <i>Which?</i> and so the surveys cannot singly be used in descriptive accounts of the British public. Surveys 69005-69012 cover various aspects of the housing experiences of <i>Which?</i> readers who moved house in 1967 and 1968. It is here particularly important to remember that the choice strategies and the resources of <i>Which?</i> readers are unlikely to be typical.
Main Topics:
Search methods used: whether respondent toured district looking for properties; whether looked in newspapers/journals for details of places for sale (9 categories); whether advertised that he/she wanted to buy property; whether commissioned an agent to find property (if so, did agent find property eventually bought; amount charged and respondent rating of service given are recorded). Respondent is asked to state how he/she first heard of the property he/she bought (14 categories). Estate agents/solicitors: number of estate agents and/or solicitors asked for details of properties; respondent rating of agent's description of properties viewed (5 categories); whether ever inspected property on strength of agent's description or recommendation but found it totally unsuitable. Respondent is asked to state information he/she would find essential',useful' and not necessary' supplied on possible properties by agent (7 categories). He/she is also asked to generally rate the agent's descriptions of properties on a 7-pointhelpfulness' scale and to access the overall service he/she received from the only estate agent/solicitor used or the best' andworst' estate agents/solicitors encountered. Data also include: number of properties recommended as potentially suitable; number inspected inside; number for which an offer was made; number of occasions on which offer was accepted; number of times respondent withdrew after making an offer and number of times negotiations broke down because vendor withdrew. Also given is: month in which respondent started searching for home; time which elapsed between start of search and making an acceptable offer on property eventually bought; whether respondent raised a loan on property and whether she had it surveyed. A section also covers applications for planning permission and/or an improvement grant (including time local council took to process application, amount awarded etc.). Description of property bought: region; type of area (e.g. rural, city - 7 categories); type of accommodation (e.g. detatched house/cottage, flat - 8 categories); size (i.e. number of rooms); whether bought freehold; age of property; whether property had complete vacant possession; gross rateable value and, finally, the asking price for the property and amount actually paid.
No sampling (total universe)
Postal survey
