Choosing an estate agent
Once you have decided to sell your home, most people will find an estate agent to help them find a buyer. In Scotland, solicitors can also act as estate agents as well as carrying out Conveyancing.
The role of the solicitor or estate agent is to:
- Act on your behalf as a selling agent
- Advise you on setting an asking price
- Discuss any issues that may prevent you from selling your home
- Prepare the Home Report for your property
- Market your property on websites such as s1homes and local newspapers
- Contact prospective buyers
- Prepare publicity materials such as schedules
- Arrange viewings for interested buyers.
You can search our estate agent directory for agents in your area. It's also a good idea to ask friends and family for recommendations and remember to shop around to find the right agent for you.
Estate agents work on a fee basis or a commission basis (normally between 1% and 4% of the selling price). Always make sure you find out about all costs up front so that you don't get a shock when you receive the bill!
The Property Ombudsman has published a guide to important matters to be made aware of when entering into an agreement with an estate agent to sell a property. You can download this here.
