Page 3 - Selling Houses in Scotland - FAQ

SELLING HOUSES IN SCOTLAND - FAQ

Is it better to use an Estate Agent or Solicitor to Sell?

Well you are reading this on a solicitor’s website so you probably know what we think! Seriously though – there
are a number of excellent estate agents operating in Scotland – and these companies will probably do a better
selling job than some solicitors firms which perhaps do not give sufficient priority to Estate Agency work. So
sellers can be choosy and speak to agents – see what their marketing programme involves and how professional
they are before deciding. On balance solicitors with good Estate Agency practices have two advantages over
non solicitor estate agents. The first is only solicitors can be members of the various Solicitors’ Property Centres

around the country. These are very efficient and successful selling organisations which add considerably to a
solicitors “selling power” if you like. The second practical advantage for clients of course is that solicitors can do
the legal work involved in transferring the property after sale, which Estate Agents only cannot do. This can
make for extra convenience for clients who have “everything under one roof”.

How long do sales normally take?

It is quite a long process from first deciding to sell to the date you get the money and hand over the keys –
usually several months. But the timescale can vary dramatically depending on location, market conditions, and

the wishes of the contracting parties. Some properties in very popular areas when the market is buoyant can sell
in days. Other properties may take many months. Usually a selling agent knowledgeable in his or her local
market can give examples of current sales times for equivalent properties. But there is no way of accurately
predicting sales times really – and the last thing a seller should do is assume things will always go
quickly. Patience is a real virtue to have when selling your house. But the good news is – all houses do sell.

Should I redecorate my house before selling?

Not necessarily if the décor is in decent condition anyway. It is true however, that houses presented to the

market in a state of decent decoration, clean and tidy, and most importantly uncluttered, do generally impress
buyers more.

Must I pay off my mortgage when I sell?

Yes – not only your main mortgage but any other loans secured on your house. If you are moving to a new
house some lenders let you transfer the old loan to your new house but you will need advice from your financial
advisor and solicitor to do that.

I’m in mortgage arrears – can I sell my house to pay them off?

Generally the answer is yes here – but you have to be careful that your lender knows what you are doing and
agrees with it. Arrears cases after a while go to the lenders solicitors for repossession proceedings to be
started. If that stage has been reached it may be impossible to sell. You should liaise with the lender and your
own solicitor to ensure agreement can be reached on any sale where there are mortgage arrears.

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