Selling Procedure

Here is a summary of the main steps involved in selling your property. We have refined these stages over many years and have found them to be practical and efficient. You can request more detail on any element, at any stage of the sale.

STAGE 1: APPRAISAL

If you are thinking of selling your property, we are very happy to visit and give you a report on market conditions, as well as an initial no obligation appraisal of your home. Should you decide to sell with us, our final assessment of your property’s value will be made in conjunction with the Single Survey and Valuation (see stage 2) carried out by the Chartered Surveyor conducting your Home Report.

STAGE 2: HOME REPORT

You have to provide a Home Report to show anyone who is genuinely interested in buying your property: this is a legal requirement. A Home Report has three compulsory features: • A Single Survey and Valuation has to be carried out by a Chartered Surveyor. The Survey contains information about the present structural condition of the house, disabled access, and estimated value. • The Energy Report has to be carried out by a Chartered Surveyor, and it rates your property’s energy efficiency and green credentials. • The Property Questionnaire has to be completed by the seller. This contains information useful to a buyer, such as Council Tax band or certificates of guarantee for any recent building work. You can complete this form with the help of your selling agent or solicitor.We can advise you on the best platforms or firms to use to create your Home Report. Alternatively, we can arrange for a Home Report to be carried out on your behalf.

Stage 3: PREPARATION

The next step is to prepare the material that will market your property. We will give you honest, well-informed advice on the best way to sell your property, and we will create a bespoke marketing strategy for you

Specialised photography can be taken of your home and scaled floor plans created. You can choose from a number of successful brochure styles. There is also the opportunity to have a video of the property made.

Your property will be placed on our website. Our site attracts an average of 120,000 visits a month and is linked to OnTheMarket.com, Rightmove.co.uk and TheLondonOffice.co.uk, giving you even wider advertising coverage. Our online presence is bolstered by regular updates through the Rettie & Co. blog and Facebook and Twitter accounts.

STAGE 4: LAUNCH

When your property is launched to the market, more steps in the marketing process will take place. You can decide to advertise your property in national newspapers and magazines such as The Scotsman, The Financial Times, and The Herald. We have arrangements in place for competitive rates with many publications. Our database contains the details of over 6,800 active buyers and provides us with a focused way to pursue individuals who can be matched with your property. We send out daily email alerts to registered buyers of relevant new properties that come onto the market, and your property will be amongst them. A high-quality For Sale board will go up and viewings will start to take place. If you are unable to attend viewings, a member of our team will carry out viewings on your behalf.

STAGE 5: REPORTING & COMMUNICATIONS

We will keep in touch through every stage of the selling process. You will receive regular reports from your selling agent, particularly with feedback from viewings and follow up contact we make with potential buyers.

STAGE 6: NEGOTIATIONS

Our experienced team will conduct negotiations on your behalf. We refer back to the beginning of the sales process, to reference your original stated objectives, and we keep these in mind throughout the negotiations so that we work to your advantage at all times. We will keep you informed and up-to-date with every new development and timescale, and you can call your agent at any time.

STAGE 7: CONVEYANCING, MISSIVES & COMPLETION

Throughout the final stage of the process, we will discuss all the options open to you, make recommendations based on what we think can be achieved and agree a strategy to get you the very best deal.At all times we maintain a regular dialogue with your solicitor in pursuing the conclusion of the sale. We actively retain our involvement till the point of completion and handover in order to help make the entire process as smooth as possible for you.