News & Blog

Find Flats For Sale in Edinburgh (Before They Go Online) Looking for flats for sale in Edinburgh? Follow these tips from Cairn and find them before they go online. Here’s something you might not realise: Some of the nicest flats for sale in Edinburgh are snapped up long before they make it to the market, let alone the property listing websites. So, how do these seemingly psychic house-hunters keep beating you to the punch? In this post, we share some of our favourite proactive property-searching tips: How to Find Flats for Sale in Edinburgh Before They Hit the Market 1. Get to Know Your Local Estate Agents The best estate agents work hard to keep their fingers on the pulse of the local market. And many develop close working relationships with sellers to achieve quick, profitable sales. As a buyer, you can aim to do the same. By getting to know your local agents (being clear, friendly, and responsive in the process), you might just get a few hot tips in return. This is especially true if you know exactly what you’re looking for in an Edinburgh flat for sale (and you have your finances in order). If something matching your specifications becomes available, an agent will often be happy to let you know before it hits the market. 2. Build a Team of Flat-hunters Unless you have your reasons for keeping it a secret, tell your friends, family, colleagues, social media connections, and anyone else who’ll listen that you’re looking for flats for sale in Edinburgh. That way, if they hear through the grapevine that someone they know or a friend of a friend is looking to sell, they can let you know ASAP. Word-of-mouth is an underrated way of finding properties, but it’s certainly effective! 3. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Letter Writing Do you know which part (or parts) of Edinburgh you’d like to move to? If so, crack those knuckles and get writing. Post letters through doors in the area(s) you’re interested in, explaining who you are, your situation, and asking if they’d be interested in selling their property. This approach is a numbers game. Most may discard your letter, but for some, it could plant a seed. Maybe they’ve been thinking about selling and simply discovering that there’s interest could be the push they need. Or, if you’re feeling particularly brave, you could knock on doors. Just be prepared for rejection. 4. Keep an Eye on the Rental Market Finally, it’s worth remembering that everything is for sale at the right price. If you see a property for rent that ticks all your boxes, there’s no harm in reaching out to the letting agent and inquiring about the possibility of buying it. Again, some landlords may have thought about selling up, especially if they’re finding it difficult to keep tenants, or if they live outside the city or country. By simply asking the question, you could prompt them to do a deal. Bonus Tip: Make Sure You Have Your Financial Ducks in a Row It’s easier to move quickly when you’re ready to move. So, if you get wind of a dream property edging towards the market, and you want to nip in there and nab it early, you need to have your finances in order. When you have the cash ready (or a mortgage in principle), you’ll seem less risky to the seller. And the attraction of a fast sale could encourage them to avoid the open market and deal with you exclusively. Interested in flats for sale in Edinburgh? Get to know Cairn a little better. Reach out and tell us what you’re looking for — we’re always happy to help. Contact us here. Did you know our Glasgow & Edinburgh branches specialise in Off-Market properties, Learn more about our approach to Tenanted Flats here.

Hints & Tips, Edinburgh, Selling

Choosing Edinburgh Estate Agents: How to Make a Shortlist When Selling in the Capital

Choosing Edinburgh Estate Agents: How to Make a Shortlist When Selling in the Capital Selling your property in or around the capital? You’ll need to make a shortlist of the best Edinburgh estate agents for starters. But what should you look for, and where should you look? Here we share our top tips: Building a Shortlist of Edinburgh Estate Agents 1. Check for Legitimacy First thing’s first, you need to make sure the Edinburgh estate agent in question is a legitimate, trustworthy organisation. And the quickest way to do this is to check their website for professional body memberships and testimonials. If you spot the Scottish Association of Landlords or The Property Ombudsman logos, for example, alongside strong customer reviews, you’ll know that you’re dealing with an agency committed to doing things right. 2. Look at Their Photos + Videos While you’re on their website, take a look at some of their listings. Are the photos high-quality? Have the rooms been dressed and presented professionally? Do they offer video tours? You’re looking for an Edinburgh estate agent that understands how to entice potential buyers with eye-catching imagery. “No Images Available” just won’t cut it. 3. Read Their Property Descriptions Sticking with the listings, read a few of the property descriptions. Are they detailed and engaging? Do they cover the basics before diving into the particulars? Do they paint a picture of the property, the area, and the amenities? Or are they short, vague, and riddled with typos? You’re not looking for Shakespearean prose, but the words are as important as the pictures. 4. Review Their Social Media Activity Nowadays, more and more people are searching for — and sharing — properties on social media. With that in mind, you’ll want an estate agent with their finger on the pulse, active on the most popular social platforms. 5. Search Where They List Properties When it comes to selling property in Edinburgh, it’s all about getting eyeballs on your listing. To that end, you need an estate agent that’s familiar with the leading property portals. If they’re only sharing your property on their website instead of Zoopla, OnTheMarket, Rightmove, and more, that could be a red flag. 6. Visit the Edinburgh Estate Agents in Person (When You’re Allowed) Finally, it’s important to remember that people buy people. You’ll want to put your sale in the hands of an Edinburgh estate agent who’s knowledgeable, likeable, and motivated. So, when you’re allowed, make an appointment to visit their office (or arrange a call or video chat in the meantime) and get to know them better. And once you’ve followed those six steps, you can whittle down your list to two or three candidates. Now you can talk in detail about services, listen to their pitch, and discuss fees. Good luck! Add Cairn to Your List of Edinburgh Estate Agents Thinking of selling your Edinburgh property? Get in touch today to have a chat or arrange a valuation.

Hints & Tips, Landlords, News

COVID 19 LOAN SCHEME

COVID 19 LOAN SCHEME A new loan scheme has been made available this week for some landlords whose tenancies have been affected by COVID-19. Private Rent Sector Landlord COVID-19 Loan Scheme Last month, the Scottish Government announced it would provide an interest-free loan to landlords who have suffered a loss of rental income as […]

Hints & Tips, Landlords, Student Accommodation, Tenants

How to manage your inventory effectively

How to manage your inventory effectively You will probably be faced with a lot of different documentation relating to your rental property- some of which you may be more familiar with than others. Included with your “move in pack” will be your property’s inventory. An inventory is a written document which provides an accurate description […]

Hints & Tips, Student Accommodation

Essentials you need for your student flat

Essentials you need for your student flat Chances are you probably feel like you have spent the majority of your student career going out, attending minimal classes and packing and repacking to go from halls to a flat to another new flat the following academic year. We are here to help cut the amount of […]

Hints & Tips, Tenants

How to reduce the amount of plastic you are using in your home?

How to reduce the amount of plastic you are using in your home? It has been reported that there is between 4.7 and 12.8 million metric tons of plastic floating around in the ocean currently. This is an astonishing amount of waste which is impacting our climate hugely just now. We have outlined some […]

Hints & Tips

Living A Champagne Insta-Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget

Living A Champagne Insta-Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget So, you want to live an Instagram-able champagne lifestyle but you’re a student. You’ve got books to buy, rent to pay, bills, food… we get it. It also doesn’t help that on your downtime you scroll through social media to find a plethora of posts from your […]

Hints & Tips, Investment

Improve Instead of Move – What Renovations Add the Most Value?

Improve Instead of Move – What Renovations Add the Most Value? With an unpredictable property market and the stress of moving, if you’re a homeowner with some capital, why not consider improving your home rather than selling up? You can add real value to your house with some investment and clever tips and tricks. Conservatory […]

Hints & Tips, Tenants

Quick Guide To Common Tenant Issues

Quick Guide To Common Tenant Issues Water Leaking Into Your Property If you have a leak in your property and it is affecting the property below, you must make sure to isolate the leak to avoid any further damage. If unable to isolate issue, water should be turned off at the stop cock which is […]

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Hints & Tips, Edinburgh, Properties For Sale

Find Flats For Sale in Edinburgh (Before They Go Online)