How long does it take to sell a house in Scotland?

As one of the leading property websites in Scotland, one of the most common questions we are asked is "how long does it take to sell a house in Scotland". The median time for properties to go under offer is currently 23 days according to our latest House Price Report, but the whole process can take longer. On average, it typically takes around 3 to 6 months to sell a house, including getting your property ready, the marketing and the conveyancing processes.”

But what many people who ask this question really want to know is, how quickly can I sell my house or flat. With that in mind, let's talk about the ways in which you can help speed up the process of selling your property in Scotland.

How long does it take to sell a house in Scotland

How quickly can I sell my house?

If you are looking for a speedy sale, there are a few steps in the selling process that you can use in your favour to expedite the transaction...

1. Get a free home valuation

The first step in selling your home is to determine its value, known as a valuation. You can take that first step right now by obtaining a free, no-obligation valuation from one of our several solicitor estate agents. Complete the home valuation form now.

In the lead up to your valuation, you should also consider undertaking some quick, easy and cheap improvements that can add value to your home.

2. Appoint a solicitor estate agent

Once you have arranged some home valuations with a solicitor estate agent, you'll need to choose one to take you through the rest of the selling process. Getting a variety of solicitor estate agents to value your property is a great way to find out what they offer, as well as understanding how they communicate with you. ESPC solicitor estate agents are experts in the local property market and can take care of the entire selling process, from marketing the property to the legal process. And, when appointing your chosen solicitor estate agent, we always recommend that you go direct.

3. Be flexible when arranging viewings

If you can, offer both open viewings and viewings by appointment, and be as flexible as possible when people are trying to arrange viewing times. Letting interested buyers view your property as soon as possible will allow them to determine if it’s the right property for them and whether they would like to make an offer quickly.

4. Present your home for sale

Another factor to consider is how your home is presented to potential buyers. If you would like to sell quickly, try to make sure there is nothing that may put someone off from making an offer. Ensure the property is clean, tidy and opt for neutral décor if possible. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Do you have any negative comments about a particular room? If so, consider fixing it before putting the property on the market.

Property selling times

It can be very difficult to predict exactly how quickly a property will sell. A good indication can be how quickly similar properties to yours have sold recently. A good way to find this out is by getting in touch with an ESPC agent who are equipped with years of expert local property knowledge or by checking out our monthly House Price Report.

You can also see up-to-date median selling times for all areas within Edinburgh, the Lothians and Borders on our website. Simply go on to the 'Area Overviews' page and select the area you're interested in. You’ll not only see the median selling time, but also average selling price, most popular property type and average % of Home Report valuation achieved for the area.

It’s important to remember that just because your neighbour's property sold quickly, doesn’t always mean that yours will. However, there are a couple of things you can do to speed up the process.

Start your journey today

If you’re looking to sell your home quickly, there’s no better time than now to get in touch with one of our agents and get the process started! The best place to begin is to book in a property valuation with an agent that best suits your selling needs.

With an ESPC agent you don't just get more money when selling, you also get more local knowledge and quality leads too.