Many people who were previously unsure about buying property have turned from "window shoppers" into "committed purchasers", it has been claimed.

London Central Portfolio explained that many investors and homeowners are becoming concerned that they may miss the bottom of the housing market if they wait too long to make their move.

This is because increased activity and competition puts an upward pressure on prices and the chance to negotiate diminishes.

Naomi Heaton, chief executive at London Central Portfolio, said: "Those entering the market in recent months have been ahead of trend and it often transpires that the early bird gets the worm."

Figures from Knight Frank show that prime central London property prices rose by 1.6 per cent in May 2009.

If people have been lucky enough to secure themselves their dream home at a time when the price is right, then they may want to use storage facilities to make the move into their new property as easy as possible.

Written by Paul Governor