Should I sell before I buy in Scotland?
In Scotland, offers subject to the sale of another property are much weaker than offers from a buyer who can commit. That is why many sellers market first and buy once their own sale is agreed, accepting a longer date of entry or a short-term let if necessary.
Managing the gap
Negotiating the date of entry is the main tool. Sellers regularly agree a longer date to give themselves time to find and secure the next property, and a buyer who is not in a rush may value the certainty of a concluded contract more than a fast handover.
Bridging finance exists but carries real cost and risk. Take independent advice from a mortgage adviser and your solicitor before relying on it.
Common questions
- Will my offer be rejected if I have not sold?
- Not necessarily, but it will usually be weaker than a comparable offer from a buyer with no property to sell — particularly at a closing date.
Lothian Property is a property information and professional-introduction service operated by Maybury Scotland Limited. Lothian Property is not an estate agency. Where requested, we may connect homeowners with independent estate agents and other property professionals. How we work.
Written and reviewed by The Lothian Property team, Edinburgh property research team. General information about the Scottish selling process — not legal advice.