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Glasgow, West End
How to Find the Best West End Estate Agents
How to Find the Best West End Estate Agents For many, the West End of Glasgow is the jewel in the city’s crown. A vibrant, sought after location, it’s home to beautiful properties, a buzzing nightlife, and idyllic green space. So, if you’re looking to call it home (or you want to sell your West End property at the highest price), it pays to work with the best West End estate agents. But how do you sort the best from the rest? In this short post, we share a few pointers. Introducing Glasgow’s West End The West End plays host to some of the city’s most stunning and unique architecture. Edwardian and Victorian buildings are set side-by-side with their modern counterparts, as old-style Glasgow tenements and glass facade new-builds weave seamlessly across the skyline. Byres Road is the area’s main artery, lined with busy bars, restaurants, shops and cafes. Take a wander down its cobblestone lanes to discover some of the West End’s hidden gems, including quirky boutiques, indoor markets, and independent galleries. And if the hustle and bustle gets to be too much, you can escape to the sprawling Kelvingrove Park or the leafy Botanic Gardens for a spot of quiet contemplation. All in all, it’s easy to see why Glasgow’s well-connected West End remains so popular. So, What Should You Look For in a West End Estate Agent? In our experience, there are three key questions you should ask yourself when shortlisting your West End estate agents. Let’s explore in more detail: 1. Are they local to the area? The best West End estate agents are part of the furniture. Their offices are located in the area, and their staff have real-world experience of the local amenities and transport links. Cairn, for example, is situated on Gibson Street, smack dab in the middle of the busy Kelvinbridge area. We’re a stone’s throw from Kelvingrove Park and 5 minutes from the University of Glasgow. While other estate agents might keep an eye on the West End, our staff know it inside out. 2. Do they have their finger on the pulse? To answer this, check their website and social media. Do they regularly post about events and activities in the area? Do they tweet about local news and available properties? And when quizzed on the hottest bars or the trendiest restaurants, do their staff answer without hesitation? That’s when you know you’re speaking with the real deal. 3. Are they part of the community? Finally, you’ll want to see that the West End isn’t simply a place of work for the agency. Instead, they’re a proud member of the community, actively involved and contributing to the spirit and togetherness. For instance, Cairn is regularly involved in local charitable initiatives and we’ve built up relationships with a number of West End-based partners over the years. The West End isn’t just a place of business; it’s our home. Cairn: Proudly Serving the West End of Glasgow Since 1999 Thinking of buying or selling in the West End? Let’s talk. Contact us today and speak to one of our friendly (local) property experts.
Glasgow, Selling
5 Tips for Choosing an Estate Agent in Glasgow
5 Tips for Choosing an Estate Agent in Glasgow Discover how to choose an estate agent in Glasgow with this handy guide from Cairn Estate & Letting Agency. There’s no shortage of estate agents in Glasgow, but they’re not all created equal. Some, like Cairn, have been part of the furniture for decades, and know every square inch of the city, inside and out. Others, meanwhile, are still finding their bearings and don’t know their Newlands from their Shawlands. So, if you’re selling your property in Glasgow, how do you choose the right estate agent to handle the sale? Here we share 5 simple tips to help you decide. 1. Always Ask for Recommendations + Look for Signs The quickest way to find a great Glasgow estate agency is to ask family, friends, or co-workers who’ve moved recently who they used and if they’d recommend them. Being referred to an estate agent by someone you trust is often a good sign when it comes to customer service. And speaking of signs… Keep your eyes peeled for “For Sale” and “Sold” signs in and around your area. This is a strong indication that the company understands the local market and can achieve sales consistently. 2. Make a List, Check It Twice From your recommendations, sign spotting, and internet searches, start to build a shortlist of around 6 to 8 estate agents. Done? Well, next, you need to whittle that list down to the final 3 you want to talk to. To do this, check each of their websites and social media for the following: Customer testimonials and independent reviews; Company info — How long have they been operating in your area?; Staff bios — How big is their team and what do they specialise in?; Current property listings — How are they presented? Are they well written? Do they include floor plans? Quality photography? Video tours? Leading property portals — Are they on the likes of Zoopla, OnTheMarket.com, and Rightmove? Social media activity — Are they active and responsive on social media? Are they sharing properties there too? 3. Visit Them Undercover (If You Can) Armed with your shortlist, it’s time to go undercover. Visit each estate agent posing as a potential buyer looking for a property just like your own (i.e., the same number of bedrooms, same size, local amenities, etc.). Listen carefully to how the suggested properties are pitched to you. Would you be satisfied if this was actually your property? Would you be left with more questions than answers? Would you buy (or at least like to view) the property? This will give you an insight into how each agency conducts its business. 4. Crunch Time: The Property Valuation Now it’s time to invite your shortlisted Glasgow estate agents to visit your property for a valuation. There are a few things you need to look out for here: Punctuality and professionalism — Have they arrived when they said they would? Are they polite, organised, and presentable? Local knowledge — Can they speak with authority on the local area? Do they know what’s selling well, and can they back that up with stats? The valuation — Don’t be hypnotised by suggestions of a big number, as this is often a tactic to win your business. Instead, listen out for a consistent price range between the 3 agents, and ask them to justify their opinions. Here at Cairn, we always provide an honest, realistic valuation based on our assessment of market data and industry experience. 5. Finally, Quiz Them On Your Property Sale Now’s your chance to ask the agents how they plan to market and sell your property. First, do they have a “hot buyer’s list”? This is a list of ready-to-move prospective buyers who get first dibs on new properties. If your property ticks all their boxes, you could be in for a quick sale. What sort of marketing resources do they provide (online and off)? Will they be conducting the viewings, or is that left to you? Do they offer home staging advice? I.e., layout and design tips to appeal to a certain market. How often will they check-in with you on progress? Will this be a phone call, email, or both? Choose Your Glasgow Estate Agent Once you’ve met the agents, spent time in their company, listened to their sales and marketing ideas, and had their fees and services explained, it’s time to choose. Our last piece of advice is to remember that people buy people. You’ll want to put your sale in the hands of the agent who’s personable, knowledgeable, motivated and easy to deal with (because remember, you’ll be working closely with them to achieve the best sale price possible). Thinking of selling your Glasgow property? Get in touch today to have a chat or arrange a valuation.
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Estate Agency, Letting
Check out our new responsive, faster to use Website !
Check out our new responsive, faster and easier to use Website ! We listened to our Landlords & Tenants and are very excited to announce the launch of our new state of the art website. The new site features improved navigation and clean, fresh design as well as introducing you to our four key defined business areas, Investors, Tenants, Landlords & Estate Agency. We wanted to make the new website faster, easier to navigate, and more user-friendly and Its integral for us to make our tenant facing information easily accessible and informative for our tenancies. As well as still marketing properties on all the leading property engines, Cairn have invested in a our new website to help deliver our unrivalled service even more efficiently online. www.CairnEstateAgency.com
Glasgow, General
Estate Agency Glasgow
Estate Agency Glasgow When it comes to the purchasing and selling of properties, Glasgow is a city full of opportunity. Since Glasgow is composed of a variety of different areas that all have their unique features, there is always something to suit the needs of everyone. If you’re a new family looking to rent your […]
Glasgow, General
A History of Glasgow Tenements
A History of Glasgow Tenements Stone tenements are characteristic of housing in Glasgow — they have been part of the fabric of the city since the 19th century. Around 73% of Glaswegians live in a flat of some description, compared with under 25% for comparable cities down south. (Source: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/history/look-glasgows-oldest-tenements-history-15044421) Tenements were first built to […]
Glasgow, General, News
Things to do in Glasgow’s West End
Things to do in Glasgow’s West End Google “Glasgow’s West End” and you’ll be greeted with so many hits you’d be forgiven for wanting to click straight off again. This vast and bustling neighbourhood has so many attractions for all interests and ages it’s sometimes hard to know where to begin. Luckily, we’ve compiled a […]
Glasgow, News
Top Pizza Places in Glasgow’s West End
Top Pizza Places in Glasgow’s West End Dinner with friends? Date night? Somewhere to take the kids for lunch? Hey, maybe even a solo dining experience (#treatyourself)? There’s nothing better than a great pizza. Luckily, the West End of Glasgow has lots to offer no matter which neighbourhood you call home. La Favorita A real […]
Glasgow, News
West End Property Post Brexit
West End Property Post Brexit What does Brexit mean for Glasgow’s Property Market? In June this year, British citizens voted to leave the European Union. It’s a turbulent time in British politics with ongoing debate and some uncertainty as to what exactly a ‘Leave’ vote means for us. You will have heard on television, in […]
Glasgow, Services
Lessons the Property Investment world can take from Glasgow Warriors win
Lessons the Property Investment world can take from Glasgow Warriors win Captain Al Kellock led Glasgow Warriors to beat Munster 31-13 and lift the GUINNESS PRO12 trophy in Belfast last month and at Cairn we were ecstatic. Now that the celebrations of the evening are over we’ve had time to reflect and recognise that there’s […]
