Selling a house in Scotland...costs?

swarby_2

Hi there. I'm helping a friend sell his house in Scotland. We had an estate agent round today at the costs seem very high compared to selling in England. I understand you have to get a home buyers report but they've also included costs for a survey which I though buyers paid for and also advertising costs plus a % of the sale price! When I've sold places in England it's always just been the % cost and nothing more. They've quoted £1660 for that plus the final 1.75 %.

Is this right for Scotland?

tberry6686

Most houses in scotland are sold through solicitors not estate agents. That quote does seem high. I thought the survey was the home buyers report ? I'd get other quotes

swarby_2

Ok yer I got confused it seem that is a solicitor that came today I just got the number off rightmove. Yer it seems that the homebuyers report does include a survey. But don't get how a homebuyers report and advertising costs £1660 plus a % fee on top!

davidmcn

There might be some doing an all-inclusive fee but the home report and advertising are presumably costs being paid to third parties, so it's usual for those to be separate from the agent's commission. Shop around though, 1.75% is fairly steep. I'd be aiming more for 1%.

swarby_2

I'm wondering if this is likely to include conveyancing actually? I'm not up there at the moment so couldn't ask

googler

The homebuyers report is a Home Report, and the cost typically varies according to the value of the house. It's a legal requirement for you, the seller, to provide one, and it includes a survey, EPC, mortgage valuation and a property questionnaire which you'll be required to complete.

Many firms charge a marketing fee upfront to put your property on the portals and SPCs - if you use a solicitor, they'll likely be a member of the local SPC.

If you want to know what's in the figure, ask for a breakdown of it.

Generally speaking, where is the property? City? Countryside? Rural? Islands?

swarby_2

Excellent thanks for that. I don't live up there and have never sold anywhere in Scotland so it's all a bit different. It's about 8 miles outside of edinburgh and valued at £135000

ellie27

We have our house up for sale at the moment.

Home Report (which is a a survey) is £375 + VAT
Estate agent fees 0.8% + VAT
" " " for marketing £300 + VAT
so in all for a home at around £135,000 that would be £2106

Conveyancing to sell will not be included. Conveyancing for us is £750.

rachhh

At the agency that I work for, our standard fee is around £2995 including conveyancing but plus VAT. Then Home Reports are £300-£400 depending on property valuation. So you're looking at about £4000 all in and we are about average with this fee.
We're an agency rather than a solicitors though so advertise on places like rightmove rather than ASPC etc.

googler

rachhh wrote: »

We're an agency rather than a solicitors though so advertise on places like rightmove rather than ASPC etc.

You're in or near Aberdeen, and you advertise on Rightmove?

googler

swarby wrote: »

Excellent thanks for that. I don't live up there and have never sold anywhere in Scotland so it's all a bit different. It's about 8 miles outside of edinburgh and valued at £135000

So, slap-bang in the commuter belt, then? Was the solicitor who came round a member of the local SPC?