SELLING GUIDE
A simple guide to selling your home.
If this is the first time you’ve sold a property, or if it’s been many years since the last time you did, there are a few things you need to do, even before marketing your home.
Home Reports
In Scotland, it is a legal requirement for residential property vendors to obtain a Home Report prior to marketing their property.
A Home Report must be provided to buyers within 9 days of requesting it. Failure to do so could result in a fine for both the seller and the agent, and contains three documents that provide buyers with a clear picture of your property’s condition and inclues the following:
The Single Survey
This report is an assessment of the property's condition, value and its suitability for people with disabilities.
The Energy Report
The energy report assesses the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the property, and recommendations on how to make it more energy efficient.
The Property Questionnaire
Completed by the seller, the Property Questionnaire provides an overview of important information such as the property’s Council Tax band and any alterations that have been made.
If a property does not have a Home Report when marketed, both the seller and the agent risk a fine.
If you would like us to help arrange this for you, we can organise this though one of our trusted partner services for a nominal fee. Please ask us for a quote.
You can find out more about Home Reports HERE.
Fire and Smoke Alarms
The law has changed and every home in Scotland must now have:
- one smoke alarm in the living room or the room you use most
- one smoke alarm in every hallway and landing
- one heat alarm in the kitchen
All smoke and heat alarms should be mounted on the ceiling and be interlinked.
If you have a carbon-fuelled (gas) appliance such as boiler, fire, heater or flue in any room, you must also have a carbon monoxide (CO2) detector in that room, but this does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.
For more information on fire alarms, click HERE.
Home Staging
Potential buyers will make their minds up whether to view your property from the pictures online, and with many purchase choices made within minutes of entering a property, it really does pay to make sure your property is prepared for marketing and viewings.
Instructing a Conveyancing Solicitor
Once you have agreed an offer in principle, you will need to instruct a conveyancing solicitor. If you haven’t got a solicitor already, we can recommend some excellent local ones who many of our clients have used and who come highly recommended.
Negotiating the Conditions of Sale
Your solicitor will negotiate with the buyer's solicitor over the finer details of the sale, referred to as 'missives', before accepting an offer on your behalf. This can only be agreed once the buyer’s mortgage offer or proof of funds have been received. The buyer will then be required to pay a deposit into your solicitor’s bank account. At this point, both parties are legally committed to proceeding with the sale and purchase.
A date for exchange of contracts and for completion will also be agreed.
The Paperwork
Your solicitor will then request the title deeds for your property from the land registry and draw up new title deeds, ready to transferring ownership of the property when the buyer’s solicitor has finished their searches and any mortgage valuation surveys required have been completed.
They will also answer any questions the buyer’s solicitor may have such as proof of ownership and complete Anti Money Laundering (AML) checks.
Exchange of Contracts
Before completion (although occasionally on the same day) both parties will exchange contracts for signing. This also commits both parties to completing on a specific date, so you are now almost there.
Completion
Completion day is a busy one for you and your solicitor as they will need to transfer legal ownership of the property to your buyer and collect the balance of the purchase price.
Once payment is received, your solicitor will notify us, and we can then release the keys to your buyer.
Congratulations! You are now sold.
Thinking of Buying?
Find your ideal home within the Cairngorms by signing up for our property matching service.
Register with usRead What Our
Customers Say
How Much is Your Property Worth?
If you’re looking to get the best possible price, in the shortest period of time, at the least inconvenience to you - look no further - connect with us today!
Book a Valuation