Sell Your Property
in Scotland
There is a straightforward way to sell a property and a complicated one. The complicated one takes four to six months. The straightforward one is a conversation with a buyer who has the cash and can confirm a sale within a week. I am that buyer.
achieved
completion
fees
The complicated way,
and the straightforward one.
The complicated one involves listing with an agent, waiting for viewings, managing offers, dealing with buyers whose mortgage falls through, renegotiating after a survey, and eventually completing four to six months after you started. You might get close to your asking price. You might not.
The straightforward one is a direct conversation with a buyer who has the cash, knows what they are looking at, and can confirm a sale within a week of viewing.
I am that buyer.
Direct sale isn't right
for every property. Here's when it is.
If your home is in excellent condition, in a premium location, and you have no time pressure, list with an agent and get maximum market exposure. That is the right call. Direct sale suits you if one or more of these applies.
You are moving into a new home and need this one sold to release the funds. You cannot afford to wait another three months.
An agent can list it but will struggle to get viewings from buyers who cannot see past the condition. You would rather reflect that in the price than run a long campaign.
You need to distribute proceeds. The family wants it resolved quickly and without fuss.
The property may have a tenant in situ or have been empty for a period. Neither is a problem.
You want it handled discreetly. No for sale board, no neighbours watching viewings, no Rightmove listing. A private sale with no public footprint.
What I look at,
step by step.
Ten minutes. I want to understand where the property is, how big it is, what condition it is in, why you are selling, what price you are expecting, and how quickly you need to move. I ask honest questions and I expect honest answers.
Not with enthusiasm and a tape measure. With a builder's eye. Structure first. Do the walls move? Crack patterns suggesting settlement? Damp, and where is it coming from? Boiler age, electrics, roof.
I will tell you what I think the condition is, what issues a buyer's surveyor would find, and what price the market will support. If I think an agent suits you better, I will say so.
I will make you an offer.
A fair price.
No chain. No games.
Not the maximum the market might produce on its best day. A price that reflects what the property is worth in its current condition, what work it needs, and what someone would pay for it once that work is done. I do not lowball. I make offers I can stand behind.
I have the cash. No mortgage lender to satisfy, no other property to sell first, no chain that can collapse at week ten.
Once you accept my offer and missives are signed, we complete. That is not a guarantee any agent can give you.
The legal process takes eight to twelve weeks in Scotland. I have a solicitor I work with regularly and I do not create delays on my side.
No listing, no board, no open house. Your neighbours do not need to know.
Straightforward costs.
No hidden extras.
As a seller in Scotland, your costs are straightforward. Solicitor fees: between eight hundred and twelve hundred pounds for the conveyancing work. That is it. You do not pay LBTT. You do not pay Additional Dwelling Supplement. Those are taxes paid by the buyer.
If you are selling a property that has been your main home throughout your ownership, there is typically no Capital Gains Tax liability. If you are selling an investment property, Capital Gains Tax may apply on the profit. Get advice from an accountant before you complete. I can point you in the right direction if you need one.
Example based on a £150,000 property.
From first conversation
to keys: ten to fourteen weeks.
If I am going to make an offer, I will do it within one to two days of viewing.
No pressure. Take twenty-four hours minimum and ask any questions you need answered.
If you accept, your solicitor and mine exchange the legal documents. This takes one to two weeks.
Typically eight to twelve weeks from acceptance. If there are title issues, your solicitor will handle them and I will stay in contact throughout.
The money transfers to your solicitor's account, you hand over the keys, and it is done.
What makes a difference
and what doesn't.
If you have time before selling and want to improve what you receive, there are things worth doing and things that are a waste of money.
- Professional deep clean: £300 to £400, changes how a property presents
- Clear the clutter: remove half of what's in the property, it reads as larger
- Fix obvious safety issues: loose electrics, non-working heating, broken locks
- Fresh coat of paint in neutral colours: £250 in materials
- A new kitchen, unless the existing one is completely non-functional
- New flooring throughout
- Premium bathroom fixtures
- Unnecessary structural improvements
The £1,000 rule: £300 into professional cleaning, £250 into neutral paint, £200 into a garden tidy, £250 into small repairs. That investment typically adds more to the offer than it costs.
Straight answers
to the obvious questions.
I will make you a fair offer based on what the property is worth in its current condition, minus any significant work needed. That is not the same as what an agent might list it at in ideal circumstances. If you think you can do better through an agent, try it. If you get a better offer, take it. I will not be offended.
Not a problem. I have bought properties with tenants in situ. We discuss the position at the time of the offer.
That is what solicitors are for. I have dealt with title issues before and they rarely kill deals. They sometimes slow them down. My solicitor will work through it.
I work across Glasgow and the Central Belt, from Paisley and Inverclyde in the west, through Lanarkshire and Ayrshire, up through Stirling, across to Edinburgh and the Lothians, and into Fife and Dundee. If you are outside this area, contact me and I will tell you honestly whether I can help.
If you are considering
selling, the first step
is a straightforward
discussion.
Tell me about your property and your situation. I will come back to you with a clear position — no obligation, no pressure.
No obligation. No pressure. Your details are kept strictly confidential.
