Selling a House in Scotland - Step-by-Step Guide

The first step in selling your property is to instruct an estate agent. Your estate agent will advise you on the sale process. They will also deal with any questions or queries you have along the way. As one of Scotland’s leading estate agent and solicitors firm, we have a wealth of experience in the Scottish property market and can guide you through every step of the process.

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A home report is a legal requirement when selling a property in Scotland.

The report comprises three parts: a single survey, an energy report, and a property questionnaire. The purpose of the home report is to provide potential buyers with essential information about the property, such as its condition, value and energy efficiency. The energy report will discuss the Green Deal and energy performance rating of the property, whilst the property questionnaire will provide buyers with information about the local area, Council Tax band, and any other relevant details.

You can commission your own home report or instruct your estate agent to do this on your behalf. The home report must be no more than 3 months old at the time you put your property on the market.

Once you have your home report, it’s time to start finding a buyer. The best way to do this is to instruct a reputable estate agent with good knowledge of the local area. At Pacitti Jones, we have years of experience in the Scottish property market and can help you to find the right buyer for your property.

When you work with an estate agent, they take care of marketing your property, arranging professional photography and viewings, and negotiating offers on your behalf. They will also provide you with regular updates throughout the process so that you’re always kept informed of progress.

Your estate agent takes responsibility for producing your home report, advertising your property, and even negotiating a price with potential buyers.

There are several ways you can make your home more attractive to potential buyers. While your estate agent is responsible for marketing your property, there are a few things you can do to give it a boost.

First impressions count, so make sure your property is looking its best before viewings take place. This means giving it a good clean, decluttering any surfaces, and making any necessary repairs.

It’s also important to highlight any unique selling points (USPs) that your property has. This could be anything from a large garden to a recently-renovated kitchen. USPs help to make your property stand out from the crowd and can be a key selling point for potential buyers, especially if they’re looking for something specific.

Working out how much to sell your property for can be tricky. You want to get the best possible price, but if you price your home too high, it could sit on the market for months with no offers.

On the other hand, pricing your property too low could mean you miss out on potential profits. Your estate agent at Pacitti Jones can help you to choose an appropriate asking price for your property which will normally be based on the Home Report valuation.

We will also review the sales prices of similar properties that have recently sold in your area when advising on how to price your home. We would recommend that you listen to your estate agent’s advice on how to price your property.

In Scotland, most homes are advertised with offers over price, which gives buyers a guide price but allows them to make offers above this amount.

Your property is most likely to receive the highest number of views and offers within the first few weeks of being on the market. This is because buyers who are actively searching for a property are more likely to make an offer early on, before they find something else that they’re interested in.

To make the most of this initial period, it’s important to be as flexible as possible when it comes to viewings. This means being available at short notice and accommodating buyers who want to view your property outside of normal working hours.

It’s also important to take feedback from viewers on board and make any necessary changes to your property.

Once your property is on the market, potential buyers will start to register a formal note of interest which needs to be submitted by your solicitor. Should you have two or more formal notes of interest this will allow you to set a closing date for offers which allows buyers to make a sealed bid offer by a set time and date.

After the closing date and time has passed, you can then decide which offer to accept in discussions with your estate agent. Pricing will obviously be key, but so will any conditionality (such as subject to mortgage approval being received for the buyer, or subject to them selling their home).

It’s important to remember that the final decision is always yours.

Once you’ve decided on an offer, it’s time to accept it. Your solicitor will advise on everything that needs to be done once your estate agents have notified the buyer’s solicitor that their client has been successful.

Once the missives of sale have been agreed upon, a date for settlement will be set. This is the date on which the sale will be completed, and you will receive your money. It can take several weeks for the missives of the sale to be agreed upon, so there is usually a period of around 6-8 weeks between accepting an offer and completing the sale.

Completion is the final stage of the selling process and is when you will receive your money from the sale.

On the day of completion, the buyer’s solicitor will transfer the money to your solicitor. Your solicitor will then pay off any outstanding mortgage on the property and give you the rest of the money after deducting their own fees and costs.

Once the money has been transferred, you will need to hand over the keys to the property to the buyer. You should also leave any items that are included in the sale, such as light fittings or curtains.

Once the keys have been handed over, the sale is complete.

Once the sale is complete, you will need to inform a number of organisations that you have changed address. This includes your bank, doctor, dentists, DVLA and HMRC.

You will also need to cancel any regular payments that you have set up to come out of your old accounts, such as magazine subscriptions or gym memberships.

Moving out of your property can be a stressful time, especially if you’re moving to a new area. There are a number of things that you need to do in order to make the process as smooth as possible.

You will need to advise your utility providers of the change of ownership and to pay any final bills. You should also notify your estate agent that you are moving out and return any keys that you have.

It’s a good idea to make a list of all the things that need to be done in order to make moving out as stress-free as possible. This will help to ensure that you don’t forget anything important, like cancelling your TV licence or redirecting your post.