Selling a home in Scotland, step by step

Scottish selling guide

What happens when you sell a property in Scotland?

1. Prepare the property and legal papers

Most homes marketed for sale in Scotland require a Home Report, subject to limited exceptions. Your estate agent or surveyor can explain what is needed. Give your solicitor details of the property, your mortgage lender, any alterations and your preferred timescale.

Your solicitor may need the title deeds, planning permissions, building warrants, completion certificates, guarantees and factoring information. Mention solar panels, private roads, septic tanks, shared repairs or alterations at the beginning.

2. Review offers and negotiate missives

Your solicitor explains the price, proposed date of entry, conditions and items the buyer expects to remain. Price is important, but a seller may also consider the buyer's funding, chain, requested timescale and conditions.

After you accept an offer, the solicitors negotiate the missives. You should continue to follow your solicitor's advice until missives are concluded and the contract becomes binding.

3. Answer title enquiries

The buyer's solicitor checks ownership, title conditions, searches and documents relating to the property. Your solicitor answers enquiries and resolves matters such as missing alteration paperwork, shared maintenance obligations or notices affecting the property.

If the property is factored, your solicitor may request a statement and information about planned major works. The missives can provide for a retention where a final account will not be available by settlement.

4. Redeem the mortgage and complete

Your solicitor obtains a redemption figure for any secured loan. On settlement, they receive the price, deliver the signed disposition and arrange repayment of the mortgage. They then account to you for the remaining balance after agreed fees, outlays and other authorised payments.

Keys should only be released when the solicitors confirm settlement. If you are buying another property on the same day, tell both your solicitor and removal company that timing can depend on linked transactions and bank transfers.

Seller checklist

• Ask whether a Home Report is required before marketing.
• Locate title, alteration, guarantee and factoring documents.
• Tell your solicitor about secured loans and shared obligations.
• Compare the scope of estate agency and legal services.
• Check what happens if extra title work is needed.
• Wait for confirmation before releasing keys.

Information reviewed against official sources: October 2026