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Selling, Hints & Tips
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.
Selling, Edinburgh, Guides
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.
Selling, Edinburgh, Hints & Tips
Choosing Edinburgh Estate Agents: How to Make a Shortlist When Selling in the Capital
Choosing Edinburgh Estate Agents: How to Make a Shortlist When Selling in the Capital Selling your property in or around the capital? You’ll need to make a shortlist of the best Edinburgh estate agents for starters. But what should you look for, and where should you look? Here we share our top tips: Building a Shortlist of Edinburgh Estate Agents 1. Check for Legitimacy First thing’s first, you need to make sure the Edinburgh estate agent in question is a legitimate, trustworthy organisation. And the quickest way to do this is to check their website for professional body memberships and testimonials. If you spot the Scottish Association of Landlords or The Property Ombudsman logos, for example, alongside strong customer reviews, you’ll know that you’re dealing with an agency committed to doing things right. 2. Look at Their Photos + Videos While you’re on their website, take a look at some of their listings. Are the photos high-quality? Have the rooms been dressed and presented professionally? Do they offer video tours? You’re looking for an Edinburgh estate agent that understands how to entice potential buyers with eye-catching imagery. “No Images Available” just won’t cut it. 3. Read Their Property Descriptions Sticking with the listings, read a few of the property descriptions. Are they detailed and engaging? Do they cover the basics before diving into the particulars? Do they paint a picture of the property, the area, and the amenities? Or are they short, vague, and riddled with typos? You’re not looking for Shakespearean prose, but the words are as important as the pictures. 4. Review Their Social Media Activity Nowadays, more and more people are searching for — and sharing — properties on social media. With that in mind, you’ll want an estate agent with their finger on the pulse, active on the most popular social platforms. 5. Search Where They List Properties When it comes to selling property in Edinburgh, it’s all about getting eyeballs on your listing. To that end, you need an estate agent that’s familiar with the leading property portals. If they’re only sharing your property on their website instead of Zoopla, OnTheMarket, Rightmove, and more, that could be a red flag. 6. Visit the Edinburgh Estate Agents in Person (When You’re Allowed) Finally, it’s important to remember that people buy people. You’ll want to put your sale in the hands of an Edinburgh estate agent who’s knowledgeable, likeable, and motivated. So, when you’re allowed, make an appointment to visit their office (or arrange a call or video chat in the meantime) and get to know them better. And once you’ve followed those six steps, you can whittle down your list to two or three candidates. Now you can talk in detail about services, listen to their pitch, and discuss fees. Good luck! Add Cairn to Your List of Edinburgh Estate Agents Thinking of selling your Edinburgh property? Get in touch today to have a chat or arrange a valuation.
Selling, Glasgow
5 Tips for Choosing an Estate Agent in Glasgow
5 Tips for Choosing an Estate Agent in Glasgow Discover how to choose an estate agent in Glasgow with this handy guide from Cairn Estate & Letting Agency. There’s no shortage of estate agents in Glasgow, but they’re not all created equal. Some, like Cairn, have been part of the furniture for decades, and know every square inch of the city, inside and out. Others, meanwhile, are still finding their bearings and don’t know their Newlands from their Shawlands. So, if you’re selling your property in Glasgow, how do you choose the right estate agent to handle the sale? Here we share 5 simple tips to help you decide. 1. Always Ask for Recommendations + Look for Signs The quickest way to find a great Glasgow estate agency is to ask family, friends, or co-workers who’ve moved recently who they used and if they’d recommend them. Being referred to an estate agent by someone you trust is often a good sign when it comes to customer service. And speaking of signs… Keep your eyes peeled for “For Sale” and “Sold” signs in and around your area. This is a strong indication that the company understands the local market and can achieve sales consistently. 2. Make a List, Check It Twice From your recommendations, sign spotting, and internet searches, start to build a shortlist of around 6 to 8 estate agents. Done? Well, next, you need to whittle that list down to the final 3 you want to talk to. To do this, check each of their websites and social media for the following: Customer testimonials and independent reviews; Company info — How long have they been operating in your area?; Staff bios — How big is their team and what do they specialise in?; Current property listings — How are they presented? Are they well written? Do they include floor plans? Quality photography? Video tours? Leading property portals — Are they on the likes of Zoopla, OnTheMarket.com, and Rightmove? Social media activity — Are they active and responsive on social media? Are they sharing properties there too? 3. Visit Them Undercover (If You Can) Armed with your shortlist, it’s time to go undercover. Visit each estate agent posing as a potential buyer looking for a property just like your own (i.e., the same number of bedrooms, same size, local amenities, etc.). Listen carefully to how the suggested properties are pitched to you. Would you be satisfied if this was actually your property? Would you be left with more questions than answers? Would you buy (or at least like to view) the property? This will give you an insight into how each agency conducts its business. 4. Crunch Time: The Property Valuation Now it’s time to invite your shortlisted Glasgow estate agents to visit your property for a valuation. There are a few things you need to look out for here: Punctuality and professionalism — Have they arrived when they said they would? Are they polite, organised, and presentable? Local knowledge — Can they speak with authority on the local area? Do they know what’s selling well, and can they back that up with stats? The valuation — Don’t be hypnotised by suggestions of a big number, as this is often a tactic to win your business. Instead, listen out for a consistent price range between the 3 agents, and ask them to justify their opinions. Here at Cairn, we always provide an honest, realistic valuation based on our assessment of market data and industry experience. 5. Finally, Quiz Them On Your Property Sale Now’s your chance to ask the agents how they plan to market and sell your property. First, do they have a “hot buyer’s list”? This is a list of ready-to-move prospective buyers who get first dibs on new properties. If your property ticks all their boxes, you could be in for a quick sale. What sort of marketing resources do they provide (online and off)? Will they be conducting the viewings, or is that left to you? Do they offer home staging advice? I.e., layout and design tips to appeal to a certain market. How often will they check-in with you on progress? Will this be a phone call, email, or both? Choose Your Glasgow Estate Agent Once you’ve met the agents, spent time in their company, listened to their sales and marketing ideas, and had their fees and services explained, it’s time to choose. Our last piece of advice is to remember that people buy people. You’ll want to put your sale in the hands of the agent who’s personable, knowledgeable, motivated and easy to deal with (because remember, you’ll be working closely with them to achieve the best sale price possible). Thinking of selling your Glasgow property? Get in touch today to have a chat or arrange a valuation.
Selling
The Home Report – What Is It?
The Home Report – What Is It? The Scottish Home Report Are you about to put your home on the market? If so, you’ll need to get a Home Report. This legally required document contains valuable information for prospective buyers – and can be easily arranged via your estate agent. If you’re feeling a […]
Selling, Letting
The Importance Of Broadband In The Property Market
The Importance Of Broadband In The Property Market In years gone by when selling a house there have been various factors that have either been dealmakers or deal breakers; transport links, local schools, local shops, playparks for the kids, that kind of thing. However we’re increasingly seeing a new ‘must have’ on the lists’ of […]
