FAQ - SAINT PROPERTY SEARCH


Q: Who are your clients?
A. Our clients are anyone who wants to purchase property in Scotland and generally has a budget of £500,000+

Q: Do you only work in Scottish Property?
A. Yes. Our knowledge and expertise is in the Scottish market, which is a different legal system to England - we act in both rural and Edinburgh city purchases.

Q: Why do I need a property search agent, surely I can look at the internet to find properties for sale?
A. You can, however, we act as your property guide and have a comprehensive list of all properties for sale that covers the whole market so we can immediately narrow your search for you. We will also know about properties that are available off market which are not advertised plus we can advise you on the properties that will suit your criteria best. For example you may make a wasted trip to a rural property that you only discover backs on to a working quarry when you arrive as it wasn't shown in the photos!

Remember searching for property is only one part of what we do for buyers, we also negotiate the terms of purchase and simplify the buying process for our clients.

Q: Are you an estate agent?
A. No. we work with estate agents. We act on behalf of buyers. We work with all estate agents and solicitors in Scotland with no preference for any particular one. The properties that suit our clients are the ones that we present to them irrespective of selling agent.

Q: What is purchasing 'off market'?
A. It is when a property is purchased before it reaches the open market and is not advertised by an estate agent on their website etc. We have access to these properties as prospective sellers who want a quiet sale may approach us directly or an estate agent will contact us first as they know that we represent the serious buyer.

Q: How do you charge for your services?
A. We are a consultant for property purchasers. The buyer pays us a registration fee on appointing us as their search & acquisition agent. On completion of the sale the buyer will pay a commission-based fee at an agreed percentage of the purchase price See our fee structure

Q: How do I know I will get value for money?
A. You are welcome to arrange a meeting with us and we can discuss what you are looking for and if we can be a helpful cog in the purchase wheel. We will explain what we do and then you can decide if you want to handle your purchase alone or if you want an expert to guide you.

Q: Isn't your service just a luxury?
A. No, it is an absolute necessity. When you are making probably the most important decision of your life, you have got to get it right. By negotiation of the terms and receiving expert advice our service ultimately results in savings for our clients.

Q: Just search?
A. Searching for property is really just a small part of what we do. The process of choosing and then acquiring property can be long and complicated and our role is simplifying that for a buyer. One of our key roles is in negotiating the best terms for a purchaser of which price is a major factor, but not the only one. We also ensure that our clients go into the purchase of their property knowing all the responsibilities that may come with it.

Q: Confidentiality?
A. Confidentiality is a major part of the service we offer. This is very important to us. As a client you can be assured of confidentiality. See our privacy clause.

Q: I have already found my dream home but I'm not sure if it is a wise purchase?
A. Our 'Pre Property Purchase Consultancy Service' offers you the chance to get a second opinion on the property you are thinking about purchasing. We will look at it and provide a report on it to include condition, investment potential, rental potential, development potential and comparable evidence. Our advice will mean you will make a confident purchase decision. If you then require us to help you with the negotiation of the sale we can, however there is no requirement to use our full service.