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Hints & Tips, Selling
Get Your House Ready to Sell in 2022
Get Your House Ready to Sell in 2022 Want to get your house ready to sell in 2022? Here are Cairn’s top tips. The Scottish property market hit new heights in 2021, with demand for property soaring in major cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh. This has led to house prices increasing by 8.8% over the last year – that’s more than the UK average of 6.2%. The good news is that this theme is likely to continue in 2022, making it an excellent time for you to put your property on the market. Read on to find out how to get your house ready to sell this year. Getting your house ready to sell: our top tips 1. Get your property valued The first step to take when preparing your home for sale is to get it valued. This will tell you its current market value and help you make sure you get the best possible price for your property. While you can quickly grab a ballpark figure by comparing your home to similar, nearby properties on the market online, it makes sense to have a valuation carried out by an estate agent with expert knowledge of the local property market. 2. Arrange a home report When the time comes to sell your house, you’ll need an official property valuation. This is much more comprehensive and is carried out by a chartered surveyor as part of the home report. Since a home report is a legal requirement when selling a property in Scotland, you could face a £500 fine if you press ahead without one. The home report is made up of three documents that provide buyers with a clear picture of the property, including its condition, its energy efficiency rating, and other important information such as its council tax band. Compiling a home report can seem daunting; however, a good estate agent will be happy to help you with this. 3. Carry out maintenance Before your house is truly ready to sell, you’ll need to carry out all essential (and even some non-essential/cosmetic) maintenance. Many buyers can be put off a property that requires them to do DIY and could walk away due to even the most minor of issues. To avoid a deal falling through due to problems you could have fixed yourself, carry out a maintenance check throughout your property. Spend some time looking for bulbs that need replacing and loose door handles, broken cupboard doors, leaks, or dripping showerheads that need repairing. Carrying out those quick fixes now will pay dividends when it comes to selling your home fast and fuss-free. 4. Find a reputable estate agent Finding an experienced estate agent can be the key to selling your home successfully. Think about asking your agent to install a Coming Soon board to kick start enquiries however a good agent will have know who is looking in your street already. An estate agent can handle many aspects of the sales process. From working out the right price for your home and advising on styling and staging to marketing it effectively to the right buyers, your sale will be in safe hands. Your estate agent can also arrange your home report, taking this vital task off your hands. If you’re getting your house ready to sell in 2022, get in touch with Cairn. As one of the leading estate agents in Scotland, we can guide you through the sales process. Let us help you sell your property quickly and at the right price.
Hints & Tips, Tenants
Going Home for Christmas: Everything Tenants Need to Know
Going Home for Christmas: Everything Tenants Need to Know The Christmas holidays will soon be upon us, which means you’re probably already making plans to go home and eat your body weight in turkey and mince pies. However, before you head off to celebrate the festive season with your loved ones, you must ensure your property is safe and secure. Not only is Christmas a popular time for burglaries, but household problems are also more common during this season. Issues such as burst pipes and boiler breakdowns can often occur during the winter months as temperatures plummet. So, read on to find out the top things tenants need to know before going home for Christmas. 1. Check all windows and doors are locked Always check (and double-check) that all the windows and doors are shut and securely locked when you leave the house to go home for Christmas. If you have a spare key, make sure it’s not hidden in a place that’s easily accessible. Thieves are accustomed to checking in obvious places such as under doormats and flowerpots. Instead, leave it with a neighbour you trust. And if your property has a burglar alarm installed, make sure it’s set before you leave for Christmas. 2. Make the house look occupied Another way to deter burglars from breaking into your home is to make it look occupied. You can do this by leaving a light on or hanging coats up in the porch or hallway. In some houses, you can set the lights to switch on at a specific time with an electronic timer. This can be an easy and affordable way to create the illusion that someone is at home during the festive period. Also, avoid broadcasting your plans on social media since this can make criminals aware your property is empty. 3. Carry out essential property maintenance Drainage issues are common during the winter months. However, fortunately, you can often quickly fix them yourself. Try using a drain unblocker and plunger before calling an emergency plumber to your home at Christmas. You should also ensure your radiators are bled and that the boiler pressure is topped up. Keep in mind that any emergency callouts not classified as emergencies will be chargeable to you. Callouts over Christmas can be very costly. 4. Find out utility companies phone numbers We recommend having the phone numbers of your utility companies on hand in case of emergency. If there’s a power cut in your area, please contact SP Energy Networks If there’s no water in your area, please contact Scottish Water 5. Check smoke alarms are working It’s essential to think about fire safety when leaving your property to go home for Christmas. Check the smoke alarms on all levels to ensure these are working (replacing batteries, if necessary). You should also ensure there are no fire hazards while you’re away, such as Christmas tree lights left on or overloaded electrical sockets. Have a safe and happy Christmas from all of us at Cairn! Going home for the holidays lets you spend quality time with friends and family — and take a well-earned break from your work or studies. However, if you plan on vacating your property for longer than two weeks, please make sure you let us know. Contact us here. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Hints & Tips, Property Investment
How to Find New Property Development Opportunities
How to Find New Property Development Opportunities Identifying property development opportunities can be challenging, whether you’re an experienced investor or you’re new to the game. To succeed, you’ll need to learn how to recognise those hidden gems in the property market. This could involve snapping up a rundown house ready for major refurbishment or finding a flat in an area that will soon be regenerated. The trick is to spot those qualities that will ensure a property sells for more than you paid for it. Read on for our top tips. Cairn’s Top Tips for Spotting Property Development Opportunities 1. Find public land for sale Finding public land for sale can be a good option for developing property. When land is put up for sale, it’s advertised in the public domain, with the government and local councils not legally allowed to sell sites off-market. Transparency is required throughout the sales process. To find out about land for sale, check out your local council’s website. 2. Visit property auctions Property auctions can be good places to find development opportunities. Since you’re likely to face less competition than when buying in the traditional way, you may be able to secure property at a discount. You can save a lot of money when buying at a property auction — however, there are a few things to be wary of. One of these is to always visit the site before committing to a sale. If you don’t, you could find that there are issues that could prevent you from maximising your investment potential. Most importantly, you’ll need to be sure of your decision before you bid. Once the gavel falls, the deal is finalised, with no requirement to exchange contracts. 3. Identify regeneration hotspots When looking for property development opportunities, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on those areas which are set to undergo regeneration works. Investors should always be on the lookout for regeneration hotspots since they signify future growth and demand. Urban regeneration usually leads to better amenities that attract new residents. Identifying homes in areas that are undergoing development often allows you to make a significant profit once local property prices have increased. Read more: Edinburgh Property Investment: Is It Worth It? 4. Work with an estate agent to find property development opportunities Of course, one of the best ways to find development opportunities is to work with an estate agent who is experienced in property development. This can save you a lot of time while also gaining expert insight into the local property market. Maintaining and developing a solid relationship with an estate agent puts you in a good place to hear all about great property development opportunities before they become public knowledge. Working with an estate agent is particularly advisable if you’re looking to make your first property investment. Read more: Buy-to-Let Glasgow Hotspots For expert advice in identifying property development opportunities, get in touch today. Our team are highly experienced in assisting property developers in Scotland, making us best placed to help you find the right opportunities to maximise your returns.
Edinburgh, HMO Properties, Student Accommodation
HMO Letting Edinburgh: Everything Students Need to Know
HMO Letting Edinburgh: Everything Students Need to Know Everything you need to know about HMO letting Edinburgh. If you’re looking for a shared student property in Edinburgh, chances are you’ll end up renting a room in a house of multiple occupation (HMO). An HMO is generally a house or flat that is let to three or more people who form more than one household. You’ll share facilities, including a bathroom and a kitchen. Learn more about HMOs in Edinburgh here, or read on to find out everything you need to know about renting an HMO in Edinburgh as a student. A Student’s Guide to HMO Letting Edinburgh Where are the best HMOs in Edinburgh? While you’ll find HMOs peppered throughout the city, some areas are better suited to this type of accommodation than others. Ideally, you should opt for an HMO close to a university and situated near the city centre. We recommend HMOs in Bruntsfield, Marchmont, Morningside, and Newington. Many of these areas are just a short walk away from the main universities as well as popular pubs and clubs. How to find the right HMO in the capital When searching for a flatshare, you should use a reputable agency that specialises in HMO letting in Edinburgh (an agency like Cairn). We only deal with licenced HMOs, helping you find quality accommodation suitable for your needs and budget. Although it’s possible to deal directly with a landlord, many students prefer to use an agency since this provides an extra layer of security. We can act as a middleman between the tenants and the landlord, ensuring everything is done by the book. Flatshare advice for overseas students International students, in particular, may benefit from using an HMO letting agency in Edinburgh. Rental frauds are on the rise nationwide, with scammers tricking students into renting out fake or already let property on websites like Gumtree. Since many overseas students are unable to view a property before handing over a deposit, this is a real risk. Using an agency that’s experienced in HMO letting in Edinburgh can help you avoid falling prey to such scams. What to consider when viewing an HMO? It’s always a good idea to check that HMO is licenced before viewing it. You can do this by contacting the local housing department. At the viewing, you should ask to see up to date gas safety and electrical safety certificates. Check the property has working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as fire extinguishers, installed. You may also want to check that appliances are adequate and in working order. Have a list of questions ready to ask when viewing an HMO. These could be anything from “Are bills included in the rent?” to “Is there storage for bicycles?” Asking questions will help you to work out if this is the right student accommodation for you. We recommend talking to other tenants already living there if possible. This will provide you with an unbiased and realistic account of living in the property. Ultimately, renting a room in an HMO can be a great move. It allows you to live comfortably with other students close to your university and other facilities, and you can easily split bills and other living expenses, making it a very affordable accommodation option. Start your search for an HMO in Edinburgh with Cairn. Contact us here.
Buy To Let, Glasgow, Landlords, Property Finance, Property Investment
Glasgow Property Investment: 5 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Glasgow
Glasgow Property Investment: 5 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Glasgow Interested in Glasgow property investment? You’re in the right place. Glasgow has become an increasingly popular option for buy-to-let investors in recent years. As well as benefitting from surprisingly affordable house prices and high rental yields, landlords are also attracted by the city’s booming population and thriving economy. Read on to find out why Glasgow property investment is such a good idea. 5 Reasons for Glasgow Property Investment 1. Population size With Glasgow City Council recently approving its ‘City Centre Living Strategy’, the population of the city centre is set to grow significantly in the coming years. The aim is to double the number of people living in the area, with a target of 40,000 to be reached by 2035. To achieve this, vacant commercial space will be converted, brownfield land developed, and new public spaces created. This is great news for landlords since a higher city centre population means an increased need for quality rental properties. 2. A growing student city Approximately 67,000 people – more than 11% of Glasgow’s total population – are enrolled in higher education. In addition to prestigious universities like the University of Glasgow, Strathclyde, and Glasgow Caledonian, there are many other top colleges and specialist learning facilities. People come from all over the world to study here. And, of course, all these students need somewhere to live, leading to high demand for rental properties. Glasgow plays home to a lucrative HMO market which our team of specialists can help you navigate. To rent a property to 3 or more persons the Landlord must have an HMO licence in place to cover them as Duty holder and the property. We will take you through the HMO application process and procedures to ensure a full 3 years licence is achieved. Licences must be renewed every 3 years and properties can be inspected at any time by an HMO department or Fire Scotland. Maintaining a good property history is crucial both to passing inspections and ensuring your licence is renewed. We will carry out an initial inspection to advise you of any remedial works need to bring the property up to HMO standards our inhouse maintenance team will organise competitive quotes. Student property can be an extremely lucrative investment opportunity for landlords. In a recent report carried out by BVA BDRC on behalf of Paragon Bank, it was revealed that landlords who have student buy-to-lets in their portfolios are consistently achieving higher rental yields compared to those who don’t. 79% of the landlords surveyed said that high rental yields are what make letting to students so appealing. Read more: Buy-to-Let Glasgow Hotspots: Where to Look? 3. Thriving economy Glasgow’s is the fastest growing economy in the UK, significantly outperforming other core cities in recent years. Its industry has evolved greatly over time, moving on from its shipbuilding past to become a leading hub for sectors including technology, finance, sciences and tourism. More than 48,000 businesses (making up 28% of Scottish companies) call Glasgow home, providing more than 856,000 jobs (34% of the Scottish total). The city’s thriving economy is one of the biggest reasons many buy-to-let landlords choose to invest in Glasgow. 4. Future infrastructure developments Glasgow will soon be an even more desirable place to live, thanks to future infrastructure developments. The City Deal will fund several major infrastructure projects, with £400 million set aside to upgrade and regenerate the city centre, Sighthill and the canal area, Calton and the Barras, Collegelands, the Clyde waterfront and the West End. 5. Affordable house prices and rising rents According to statistics from Zoopla, in November 2021, the average price for property in Glasgow was £214,765. This is significantly less than the UK average of £264,000. When you couple this with the fact that rents are rising at the fastest rate ever recorded, this makes Glasgow a highly desirable option for landlords. The city has some of the best yields in the UK. As you can see, there are so many reasons for landlords to invest in Scotland’s biggest city. To learn more about the best Glasgow property investment opportunities, talk to one of our experienced team today.
Edinburgh, Guides, Selling
Edinburgh Estate Agents: Your Brief Guide to Selling Your Home in Scotland’s Capital
Edinburgh Estate Agents: Your Brief Guide to Selling Your Home in Scotland’s Capital Selling your home in the capital? Finding the right Edinburgh estate agents is step one, but there are other costs and considerations, too. This short post will share everything you need to know about putting your Edinburgh home on the market. First, Hire Your Edinburgh Estate Agents Choosing the right Edinburgh estate agent can make all the difference to how quickly (and for how much) you can sell your property. Ideally, you’ll want someone with local knowledge, experience, and a track record of success in your area. Someone like Cairn. Here’s how we can help you sell your property in Edinburgh: It all starts with the valuation: We give you an honest, realistic valuation based on assessing relevant market data and industry experience. Next comes the legal stuff: We’ll recommend you a choice of industry professionals (with favourable rates) to help with your home report and conveyancing. We can also advise you on how to tackle any of the works suggested by the home report. Putting eyeballs on your home: We take a proactive and in-depth approach to marketing your property. This includes: Placing a “FOR SALE” board on or as near to your property as possible Designing hard copy and PDF brochures with professional quality photography and descriptions to highlight the key and best features of your property Generating an accurate floor plan Creating digital marketing Posting property details on all key online residential property portals, including Rightmove & Zoopla Presenting your property on our own website with a downloadable PDF brochure Featuring your property on social media Circulating our property listing to Cairn’s active purchaser database weekly Displaying a window card in our office Preparing for and conducting viewings: Before showing your property to prospective buyers, we can provide home staging advice linked to target markets and budgets. We then host open or accompanied viewings, follow up on queries, and regularly report on progress. Negotiation and sale: Finally, we liaise with purchasers on your behalf in an open negotiation to get you the best possible price for your home. Interested in getting started? Arrange a valuation here. Other Important Considerations + Costs When Selling Beyond the services we provide above, there are a few more costs and considerations when selling your Edinburgh home. These include: The home report: This is a compulsory part of putting your home on the market in Scotland. The home report provides all the essential information a potential buyer will need to make an informed decision about making an offer. We can help you arrange this, or you can find a provider yourself. The price will vary depending on the size of your home but usually costs somewhere in the region of £250 to £750. Conveyancing fees: Once you’ve accepted an offer on your home, “conveyancing” can begin. This is the legal term for the transfer of ownership from you to the buyer. If you’re working with a separate conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor, you should expect fees to cost around £1,500. Removal costs: An often overlooked cost, removal (and storage) is vital, especially when you’re working to a tight deadline, or there’s a gap between moving out of your old home and into your new one. Costs will vary depending on your needs. You may wish to hire a van and do it yourself, or you might need a professional removals company to help you pack and transport everything. Expect to spend anywhere from £400 to £1,200, and sometimes more. Cairn: Your Edinburgh Estate Agents As one of Edinburgh’s leading local estate agents, we can help you sell your home without any fuss or drama. Get in touch to learn more.
Glasgow, HMO Properties, Letting, Student Accommodation, Tenants
Why We’re the Best Glasgow Letting Agents for Students
Why We’re the Best Glasgow Letting Agents for Students Are you looking for Glasgow letting agents for students? Here are three reasons why we’re the best around. Glasgow is ranked first in Scotland, fourth in the UK, and 39th in the world when it comes to the best student cities — and it’s easy to see why. With an impressive mix of students, world-renowned universities, historic landmarks, breathtaking architecture, friendly locals, and vibrant, contemporary culture, Scotland’s biggest city is hard to beat. If you’re moving to Glasgow to further your education, you’ve made a great choice. But you’re going to need somewhere to rest your head after a day of lectures (or a night in the student union). That’s where we come in. Cairn has been helping students rent in Glasgow since 1999, and we can help you, too. Here are three reasons why we’re the best Glasgow letting agents for students. Why We’re the Best Glasgow Letting Agents for Students 1. Helping Student Tenants from Day One Some estate & letting agents in Glasgow won’t take on student tenants. That’s not our style. We love helping students take that first exciting step towards living away from home. We also appreciate that it can be a bit daunting, to begin with. That’s why we’re always on hand to advise if there’s ever anything you’re unsure about. On our website, you’ll find a few handy “how-tos” (here), and we make it super simple for you to report a repair in your property. 2. HMO Experts Moving to an HMO property as a student makes a lot of sense. You get to split the bill three, four, or five ways (or more, depending on the size of the property), and it gives you a chance to meet and live with new people. But not all HMOs are made equal. As HMO experts, we make sure the properties on our watch are fully-licensed, inspected regularly, and safe for student occupancy. Read more about our approach to HMOs here: Cairn: HMO Specialists in Glasgow. 3. Proudly Local Our Glasgow office is based on Gibson Street, a stone’s throw from the stunning grand main building of Glasgow University. We think having that local presence is vital — you don’t want to deal with agents located two towns over. Rather, you should be able to pick up the phone and pop by for a chat if required. We also know the city like the back of our hands. If you’re unfamiliar with Glasgow, our localised team of letting agents can help you figure out the best place to rent in relation to your campus, taking class times and public transport into account. Cairn: Your Glasgow Letting Agents Whether you’re moving at the start of term time or while classes are in full swing, we can help you find the right student flat in Glasgow for you. Get in touch to learn more.
Buy To Let, Investment
Cairn, Your Property Investment Specialist in 2023
Cairn, Your Property Investment Specialist in 2023 Cairn has made quite a name for itself in the sales and rental market, but did you know it also has a thriving investment services? For those looking to make an investment in the property market Cairn offers a property matching service where we look at properties on and “off” the market to suit your investment requirements. Whether moving into the area, buying an investment to rent out, adding value through refurbishments for resale, or an HMO student property, Cairn’s combined market knowledge and access to stock can be beneficial. We offer buyers a pro-active search and recommendation service at our discretion. Another component of our investment service is to provide our clients with relevant information relating to the market, such as properties that aren’t yet ‘on the market’. Being a local estate agent there are a variety of ways in which we come across buying opportunities. For example, by using our contacts with reputable surveyors we can sometimes offer investors the chance to buy off market before the general public is informed. Also, because of our presence in the market we are sometimes approached direct by property owners who know we can introduce a buyer. However, even if you find property without our help, our expertise can still be a vital asset. Cairn can help you objectively assess the property relative to your aims and if it matches up, we can help you work out what you are prepared to pay. We can then see that through to any potential development work and project manage this before handing it over to our “letting department” reducing your void periods. Another advantage of our investment service is that we’ll always keep you updated on industry news and potential properties. This is done by sending you a regular update of available properties and providing you with generic advice. Invaluable given the current housing climate. Our investment service offers the perfect balance of our hands on help and advice while still giving you room to breathe and make your own decisions. Our aim is just to help you make informed decisions. If you’d like to learn more about our investment service or any of Cairn’s other services please get in touch and our staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Landlords, Letting
Landlords – we take referencing seriously!
Landlords – we take referencing seriously! At Cairn we pride ourselves on our strict and comprehensive referencing processes. Protecting our landlords from potential fraud risks or tenants that do not meet our criteria is a top priority at Cairn Letting. As COVID-19 has introduced further complications for landlords, we will make sure you are fully updated with new legislation and facts regarding the changes to Government Legislation. We have a highly experienced Compliance Manager and our Property Managers are all Fully Qualified, holding certificates with Letwell and ARLA who will ensure you are protected and can support you with any difficult situations you find yourself in whilst letting out your property. Please find a list of the referencing documents we ask prospective tenants for in order to fully protect our landlords: Credit check – We feel this is crucial in obtaining the correct tenant for our client and allows us to validate if they are suitable for the tenancy Two Proofs of Address – This is important in order to ensure the potential tenants are who they say they are along with a copy of photographic ID National Insurance Number Check residence status – For overseas tenants we ask to see a copy of their visa or residence permit to ensure that they are entitled to be in the UK. Check for previous First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) eviction and civil proceeding decisions against the tenant on the tribunal’s website here. Cairn always look into the detail of any case as sometimes the tenant will not be at fault. Employer/pension provider/accountant reference – this will detail their job title, contract duration and/or annual income. Last 3 months pay slips – This is a further procedure to check their current job role and salary is correct For students, we ask for a letter from their university confirming their student status. For students funded/paid by an organisation or government, we ask for evidence of paid income or funding for living expenses . Landlord reference – if the tenant has lived in rental accommodation in the past then we will obtain a reference from their former landlord/letting agent. This will state the tenancy dates, monthly rent due, details of any arrears, whether the property was kept clean and tidy, whether deductions were made from their deposit and whether there were any problems with anti-social behaviour or other breaches of the tenancy terms. If a potential tenant does not meet our affordability checks we will ask if they can provide a guarantor. A guarantor is a person who agrees to pay the rent if the tenant fails to do so. You may also choose to ask for a guarantor if the prospective tenant hasn’t rented before, doesn’t have a regular source of income or you have any other concerns about their ability to pay the rent. For student applications we ALWAYS ask for a guarantor.
