ISSUE 97 BUYING AND SELLING PROPERTY IN WEST CENTRAL SCOTLAND Property For Sale PROPERTY TRANSACTION TOP TIPS ESTATE AGENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA Contents 5 WELCOME Our introduction to House magazine. 9 TOP TIPS FOR A SMOOTH PROPERTY TRANSACTION They say it's one of the most stressful things we do, and with several major obstacles to overcome before you get the keys things can unexpectedly grind to a halt, testing the nerves of everyone involved. 10 AGENTS V SURVEYORS VALUES During 2018 there was media coverage alleging surveyors were ‘down valuing’ and preventing some 12 buyers from obtaining mortgages. 12 PROPERTY FOR SALE Property available in West Central Scotland. 22 WHY ESTATE AGENTS SHOULD HIT THE LIKE BUTTON ON SOCIAL MEDIA Publisher Cochran Dickie According to a recent study, Facebook is just Editor Curtis Chisholm too big to be ignored by estate agents. Assistant Editor Iain Storrie Features Curtis Chisholm Front Cover: Ashfield Development, Bridge of Weir. Art Director Don Jack See page 12 Graphic Designer Stuart Robertson Creative Studio ideas.co.uk All enquiries to: [email protected] Curtis Chisholm & Iain Storrie www.cochrandickie.co.uk DIRECTORS House magazine is published by Cochran Dickie. Property for sale in Paisley All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in Paisley Office part without prior written permission from the 21 Moss Street, Paisley PA1 1BX publisher is strictly prohibited. Great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of all content t: 0141 840 6555 f: 0141 848 9168 however the publisher accepts no liability for e: [email protected] loss or damage suffered through any errors or omissions that may occur. Cochran Dickie Property for sale in Bridge of Weir reserve the right to reproduce and use any Bridge of Weir Office COLIN STEWART material received from advertisers or 3 Neva Place, Bridge of Weir PA11 3PN contributors and will do so unless any t: 01505 613 807 f: 01505 615 682 conditions for it’s use have been clearly advised at the time of submission. Published and printed e: [email protected] T. 07807 146 230 in the UK by Cochran Dickie. PP 01 / 02 / 19 E. [email protected] WelcomeWELCOME TO THE LATEST EDITION OF ‘HOUSE’, COCHRAN DICKIE’S PROPERTY AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER HOUSE BUYERS, SELLERS AND THOSE PEOPLE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. Welcome to the latest edition of HOUSE magazine Welcome one and all to 2019. By the time you Inside this edition of HOUSE we have an article on the use of read this the country will be in a complete social media and its influence on property which may be the way we are going, some tips on trying to create a smooth transaction state of flux with no decisions on where we are and also some thoughts on why estate agents and surveyors going or what we are doing and the thing we sometimes differ in values. (Unless of course the firm employing feared most; ‘Uncertainty’ will remain in our the services of the surveyors actually owns them!) psyche. How will that effect property buying Enjoy the magazine, Spring is just around the corner! and selling? Time you would have thought would tell. Curtis Chisholm Well, wouldn’t you know, so far (it is only January of course) it DIRECTOR has been quite the opposite from what we thought. Incredibly we have instructed quite a number of properties to bring to the market some of which that have already gone under offer! So what does that tell us about what the market is doing? We are still not quite sure. Is it the bounce out of the festive period whom who have made big decision over the Christmas dinner table and decided now is the time to move irrespective of the global surroundings? Maybe? Or is those that are trying to get a deal done before March 29th and the fear of more uncertainty?? Who knows?! All I can say is we are here for whatever decisions you make to come to the market whether it be to buy or sell. We will do our upmost to get you best price in these challenging times using all the portals at our disposal coupled with fantastic up to the minute social media. COCHRAN DICKIE ESTATE AGENTS ESTAS SILVER AWARD WINNER Top tips for a smooth property transaction They say it's one of the most stressful things we do, and with several major obstacles to overcome before you get the keys things can unexpectedly grind to a halt, testing the nerves of everyone involved. However, there are a few things you can do to make the process as stress-free as possible. Here are NAEA Propertymark’s top tips that can help with a smooth-sailing property transaction. To help you make a great first impression with your home, Anglian CHOOSE A FIRST-CLASS SOLICITOR AND AGENT. Home Improvements and Landscaping Expert Gena Lorraine from Your solicitor and agent working together is crucial to the whole Fantastic Services have analysed 500 photographs using the popular process, so it’s important you’re working with people you trust. Ask for #doorstagram hashtag on Instagram to give you the lowdown on recommendations from friends or colleagues to ensure your sale or exterior trends, and provide tips on how to make your home look purchase is in good hands. appealing to visitors. COMMUNICATION IS KEY GET ORGANISED Keep in regular contact with your solicitor and estate agent so you’re Before you even start looking for a property, get organised. You should up to speed with what’s going on throughout the process. You might speak to a mortgage adviser to confirm your budget and get an want to agree a weekly update between all parties at the start of the agreement in principle from them. Then do some research into which process to reduce the chances of any miscommunication or areas you can and can’t afford before arranging any viewings. misunderstandings. When your offer is accepted, you’ll get a formal mortgage offer, but remember this will only be valid for a set time-frame, and if you don’t MARK HAYWARD, complete on the property before it expires, you’ll need to start the Chief Executive, NAEA Propertymark said: “Property transactions process again. occasionally take longer than expected and there is nothing more frustrating for someone who is eager to move, than a delayed transaction. Planning well and managing your own expectations can DON’T SIT ON THINGS help mitigate against this and your estate agent should also guide you At the start of the process, your solicitor will probably send a lot of through the process and keep things moving on your behalf.” information through to you, and it’s important to review, fill out, sign and return everything quickly and efficiently. Don’t rush anything, but don’t sit on things for two or three weeks as you’ll be holding up the process. Accept that normal life may need to take a back seat until you have exchanged contracts, and make sure you’re fully contactable – even if you’re on holiday. H House 9 Agents v Surveyors values For more than 20 years we have been advising our clients about their During 2018 there was media coverage alleging surveyors were ‘down valuing’ and preventing some finances, in a hugely changing buyers from obtaining mortgages. Even the BBC covered this in July 2018, saying that there had been environment. They are still our a “significant” increase in properties being valued at an amount less than the buyers agreed to pay. clients. Now so are their friends and SO WHY DO SURVEYORS ‘DOWN VALUE’? family. We want to enable you to take care of your own future. That Back in the middle of 2018, Emoov’s then CEO Russell Quirk The willing buyer – it’s important that they’re not over eager or was quoted as saying “down valuations” are due to surveyors determined to buy at any price. This buyer is also one who means trusting us to navigate the “simply covering their backs”. This is not true and demonstrates purchases in accordance with the realities of the current market a real lack of understanding about the way surveyors work. and with current market expectations, rather than in relation to financial world for you. Creating a an imaginary or hypothetical market that cannot be Surveyors provide valuation services across many asset classes demonstrated or anticipated to exist. The assumed buyer would piece of art is always individual. and the RICS requires that they work to the highest standards not pay a higher price than the market requires. that is underpinned by the mandatory regulatory scheme, The willing seller – the seller should equally not be over eager to Valuer Registration. It is not simply that they are Chartered nor considered to hold out for any price. The factual Surveyors. Now they must also be Registered Valuers. circumstances of the seller are in effect ignored by the definition In addition, the approach they take to a valuation is governed by that puts in place this hypothetical basis. the RICS Valuation Practice Note, the Red Book. This practice After proper marketing – means that it is assumed that the note contains mandatory rules, best practice guidance and exposure to the market has also been the best possible. There related commentary for all members undertaking asset should have been enough time for the asset to be brought to the WWW.STEWARTIFA.CO.UK valuations. attention of a sufficient number of potential buyers.