Property Buying Guide
Whether you’re a first time buyer, someone who has never bought a property in Scotland before or an experienced buyer who wants a refresher on the buying process, have a read through our Buying Guide – it could save you a small fortune!
Property Buying Guide
Finding a Solicitor
We recommend that you find a solicitor who is experienced in negotiating property purchases because they can guide you through the process and hopefully secure you a better price than if you negotiated directly with the property seller or the seller’s estate agent.
What will a solicitor quote for?
There are a variety of costs associated with buying a property in Scotland. There are of course solicitor fees, plus VAT, for the work that they do for you in the purchase. There are also a number of governmental charges that are associated with a property purchase and these can come to a few hundred pounds. Some of these fees depend on whether you are buying the property with a mortgage. Your purchase might also be subject to Land & Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), which is a tax paid to the government on property purchases.
Will I get a better service from a more expensive solicitor?
Higher fees don’t necessarily translate into a higher level of service, particularly in the legal profession where some firms prioritise expertise over customer service. We’d suggest that you shop around for a solicitor who you feel comfortable with, who charges a reasonable fee, and who gives you assurance about the level of contact you can expect.
How much should I pay for solicitor fees?
Solicitor fees vary widely so it’s very difficult to give a figure here. Unless the legal fees are well above-average, they can often pale into insignificance compared to the LBTT and other fees that have to be paid to other government bodies. The value of the property can affect some of the governmental charges and most certainly has an effect on how much LBTT you end up paying.
Is the price I pay likely to vary much from the quote?
The quote will usually be for a ‘standard’ conveyancing transaction. Sometimes issues can crop-up during the purchase that are non-standard, for example, the solicitor having to raise a legal action on your behalf against the property seller if they don’t actually hand-over the property on the date that was agreed in the contract. In those cases, the fee might vary from the quote. However, the solicitor shouldn’t charge you anything extra unless you have first agreed to it.
Can MOV8 Real Estate act as my Solicitor?
Yes! MOV8’s New Client Team and Conveyancing Department negotiate the purchase of hundreds of homes per year and are experts in property purchases.
