Procedure for flat purchase in Scotland?

[Engadvisor]

Hi Everyone I'm now living in Scotland and I'm hoping to buy a flat in Edinburgh. But we have all lived in England all our lives and only ever purchased property there. Can someone advise me please as to the process of property purchase in Scotland. In England a solicitor is not involved until a price has been agreed on. All initial offers are made through the Estate Agents. Looking on line it seems Solicitors are involved at a much earlier stage in Scotland?

Thanks for your help
Julie

I'm not an expert. But if it's offers over you get a solicitor and they make an offer on your behalf by a certain date. If it's fixed price then that's a bit more straightforward.

Solicitors act as estate agents in Scotland for most transactions especially in Edinburgh www.espc.com is the go to property site for
Edinburgh

Yes. You need a solicitor to put in an offer and generally people do not drop out after making an offer so you must be really really sure.
In Edinburgh you need a mortgage in principle and a solicitor before even viewing and expect good properties to sell in weeks from appearing on espc.
I recommend taking to the staff in espc on George st who will take you through it all.
For sols I've used lints and Anderson strathearn and warners. All perfectly good service.
A good sol will advise you what you'll need to offer on a property as they'll know what others have gone for recently. In my area when we last bought two years ago it was 10% over "offers over" but that doesn't apply everywhere that's why sols advice is invaluable.

What's hard about offers over is that if you offer over the home valuation as is common in Edinburgh, you have to come up with the amount over the valuation in cash.

A good solicitor is essential here - we've used Connell & Connell a couple of times and found them particularly good with the bid process.

Just don't use Gordon Cameron as solicitor., He's a disgrace!!