For those pushed for time, we have chosen our top 5 conversion properties on s1homes.com this week.

1. Brown St, Newmilns. East Ayrshire.

As one of the world’s last traditional Scottish lace mills, there’s a lot of history behind this property. Added to that, it’s made up of interconnected buildings, making it ideal to split into smaller units if that appealed to the buyer – a good one for investors.

2. Isle of Soay, Broadford and South Skye.

This property is in a beautiful location on the Isle of Soay which is roughly four square miles – although not for everyone as it’s so remote. Normally accessed by boat and only seven houses on the island, this property is a project but will be worth all the effort for the right buyer.

3. The Crescent, Skelmorlie. North Ayrshire

Huge rooms, extensive gardens and retained period features are just a few details that make this property appealing – plus all the hard work has already been done for you!

An open fire and views out to the Firth of Clyde make this three bedroom conversion a dream home.

4. Bridge Castle House, Bridgecastle. West Lothian.

This luxurious 2-bedroom garden level apartment is within an exclusive B-listed castle conversion set in picturesque garden grounds. It is a unique country home with character, elegance and exuding charm and history.

5. Bridge St, Tradeston. Glasgow

Grand is one word that sums up this property. At one time, the property was The Glasgow Savings Bank but is now being advertised as the perfect venue for a club or restaurant. You might not want to snap this property up as a home but we couldn’t leave it off the list with its imposing interior features.

If these five have caught your interest, see all conversions currently for sale at s1homes.com

But with property prices now at their pre-recession levels and predicted to continue rising, it means there is scope to build a very healthy career as an Estate Agent.

Chris Campbell runs the Scottish division of Your Move, one of the UK’s largest estate agents and he’s been talking to s1homes about what it is like to sell homes for a living.

Tell us a little bit Your Move and about your own role within the company?

“Your Move is part of the LSL Group and is one of the biggest estate agencies in the UK.  Our services cover residential estate agency, lettings and financial services.

I am the Regional Managing Director for Scotland, responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Scottish branches.”

How buoyant is the housing market in Scotland at the moment?

“The housing market has steadily improved since the recession, with house prices increasing year on year and volume sales slowly increasing.”

What does it take to persuade a seller to list their house with Your Move ahead of one of your competitors?

“We are a customer-focused company and will strive to provide the best customer service that is available in the market place.

We also have wide coverage via the internet portals and pride ourselves in having the ‘most visited’ estate agency website.”

What makes a really great estate agent and what skills to do you look for when recruiting staff?

“You’ve got to be a ‘people’ person with good interpersonal skills.

We expect our agents to be team players and when we recruit we look for someone who has a good customer service background as well as excellent selling skills.”

Do you provide training and, if so, what form does it take?

“Training is ongoing, starting with an intensive induction course in our training centre followed by further training within their base branch.

We pride ourselves in promoting from within wherever possible and will actively put people forward for training courses, if we think that this will help them to further their career within the company.”

Do you think good estate agents are born with sales skills or is this something anyone can learn?

“Selling skills are the same for estate agents as any other sales role – the key talent a good sales person has is the ability to listen, to get to know their customer and to only sell to their needs and requirements. This can be learned during training.”

Finally what advice would you give anyone who wants to get into the industry?

“Be prepared to start right at the beginning where you can learn in detail the role of an estate agent before progressing with your career.”

s1homes.com works with trusted estate agents across Scotland. So if you are looking for someone to sell your home, search now. Or if you are an agent looking to advertise on Scotland’s biggest property site, contact s1homes.com

Once your offer has been accepted and your entry date has been agreed, it’s time to think about moving. It can be stressful, but making lists is key to keeping you as organised as possible.

Here’s our moving house checklist of what to do and when, in the weeks leading up to your move – and on moving day itself.

Preparing for moving day

1. Clean out your cupboards. Try to use up the contents of your cupboards, fridge and freezer – it’s less to pack and allows you to defrost your appliances.

2. Start packing

• Collect boxes for packing and bubble wrap to protect fragile objects
• Have a clear out and donate unwanted items to charity
• Start packing non-essentials
• Pack a box to keep handy for the first night in your new home – tea, coffee, snacks, cleaning products and toiletries
• Mark fragile on boxes containing breakables
• Mark all boxes with the room that they will be going in at your new property

3. Keep stress to a minimum and plan for someone to look after your pets and/or young children on moving day

4. Notify utility suppliers, companies related to your finances (banks, credit cards, your employer etc.), and the DVLA of your new address

5. Gather up and keep all your important documents (passports, marriage certificates) safe

6. Collect spare sets of keys from relatives and friends

7. Write directions for your moving company, provide a plan of your new home and organise parking for the removal van

On moving day

1. Finish packing anything that you have still been using (bedding, toiletries etc.)

2. Disconnect appliances

3. Show the removers round your home and explain what has to go and what has to be left behind

4. Lock up and make your way to your new house

5. Show the removal team round your new home and explain what has to be put where

6. Check the van to be sure it has been emptied of all your belongings

7. Make up the beds

8. Relax with a celebratory glass of champagne and leave the unpacking until tomorrow

Happy moving!

If you’ve sold your property but haven’t found somewhere new yet or you’re thinking about moving, search properties for sale and to rent in Scotland at s1homes.com.

There are some small things you can do to make your home more appealing to a prospective buyer, without spending a fortune.

Remember that you are in competition with other properties in the area of a similar size and value so small things you can do to make yours stand are surely worth it.

Here are our top tips for ‘staging’ your home:

1.    Declutter

Get rid of excess furniture, kitchen appliances and personal items. Prospective buyers want to be able to see the size of the rooms, visualise their own furniture in the property and see if they could imagine living there. Don’t make it too clinical though, leave some personality as it can inspire buyers for what they could do with the space.

2.    Tone down bold colours

You don’t need to redecorate your entire home but a fresh coat of paint in a neutral colour can help make your house brighter and create the illusion of space.

3.    Clean and tidy up

It seems obvious but you would be surprised at the number of people who leave washing hanging up, dishes in the sink and crumbs on the kitchen surfaces. Clean everywhere, tidy up and get rid of any unpleasant smells.

4.    Make minor repairs

You might have got used to a broken door handle, a light bulb or a hole left in a wall from a picture hook, but a buyer will notice them. Take a trip to your local hardware shop, get out the filler and make those minor repairs.

5.    Remove all traces of pets

You might be an animal lover but it doesn’t mean your viewers are. Call in a favour for friends or family to look after your pets and get rid of litter trays, bowls and baskets.

6.    Put on all the lights

Once you have tidied, cleaned and painted, show off your hard work by making your home as bright as possible. You could even light some candles.

7.    Consider the temperature

If it’s a warm day (unlikely in Scotland, but you never know), open the windows and get some air in. Likewise if it’s chilly, put the heating on. If your buyers are looking at multiple properties you don’t want to be remembered for the wrong reasons.

8.    Don’t forget the outside

Prospective viewers often drive by or walk round an area before arranging a viewing. Cut the grass, get rid of weeds and sweep the path. If you live in a flat, try as far as possible to make sure the area at your front door is clear. If you have one, speak to your factor about any communal areas that need tidied up. In the industry this is known as ‘curb appeal.’

Anything we have missed? Let us know your hints and tips.

If you are preparing your home for sale, s1homes has a full directory of trusted estate agents in Scotland.

And if you are looking to buy, there are thousands of properties to choose from.

Image: www.flickr.com/tommerton

What is a Home Report?

Home Reports are unique to Scotland. They were introduced by The Scottish Government in 2008 to provide buyers and sellers with better information about the value and conditions of properties for sale in Scotland.

About the Home Report

The Home Report is made up of three documents:

1.    The Single Survey

This is an assessment by a chartered surveyor of the condition of the home, a valuation and an accessibility audit for people with particular needs.

2.    Energy Report

This is also prepared by a chartered surveyor. It is an assessment of the energy efficiency of the home, its environmental impact and recommends ways to improve the energy efficiency.

3.    Property Questionnaire

The property questionnaire is completed by the seller of the property. It contains additional information that is useful for buyers, such as council tax banding and factor fees.

Who needs a Home Report?

Sellers must have a Home Report before marketing a property for sale. Buyers can find out key information about properties they are interested in, before arranging viewings and making offers.

Are there any exceptions?

There are some properties that don’t need a Home Report. Exceptions include newly converted premises, unsafe properties and properties to be demolished. A full list of exceptions can be found on The Scottish Government website. If a property does not require a Home Report, the seller will still need to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate.

How do you commission a Home Report?

For sellers using an estate agent, you can commission a Home Report through your agent. There is also the option to commission it directly with a chartered surveying firm.

How much does a Home Report cost?

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in Scotland advises that Home Reports will cost sellers between £585 and £820. The cost will depend on the size of your home and the surveyor you decide to use. You should request quotes from a few surveyors to ensure you get a competitive price.

How long does a Home Report last?

Your Home Report must be no more than 12 weeks old when the house is put on the market so that the most up-to-date information about the property is provided to potential buyers. If you want to take your property off the market, you can do so for 4 weeks at a time without requiring a new Home Report.

If your property has been on the market for a significant period of time, a buyer might request that it is updated. This will be agreed on both sides and a charge agreed with the Home Report provider.

Do you have to supply the Home Report to anyone who asks for it?

If you think the buyer could not afford the house, is not genuinely interested in buying the house or is not a person to whom you would wish to sell the house, you do not have to supply a copy.

Any other questions? The Scottish Government has a useful Home Reports website.

If you’re considering selling your home, get a free valuation and search a full directory of estate agents across Scotland at s1homes.com.

Here are our top tips for choosing your estate agent.

1.    Get a free valuation 

Find out how much your property is worth with a free valuation from a trusted estate agent in your local area. They’ll visit your home to carry out an appraisal with no obligation and will offer advice to help you make decisions on what to do next.

2.    Don’t automatically choose the agent with the highest valuation

Of course you want to achieve the highest possible price for your property but it’s also important to compare an agent’s marketing methods, knowledge of the local area and recently sold properties when compiling your shortlist.

3.    Ask for a breakdown of fees

Does the agent charge you a flat fee or a % of the selling price? Do they charge extra for professional photos and videos, or supplying schedules for you to hand out to your viewers? Get a complete breakdown of pricing and make sure you ask what is included and what is optional.

4.    Decide how much of the process you want to handle yourself

There are more and more agents now that are completely online. They may handle your sale at a lower cost but you will have to do more of the legwork for yourself e.g.  taking your own photos. You might prefer to take more of it on yourself but do your research first to understand what is expected of you. Decide which parts of the process you really want handled by an expert and this will inform your choice of agent.

 5.    Choose one that advertises on the key property portals

s1homes is Scotland’s biggest property site so you want to make sure to choose an agent that advertises on the website See the full list of member agents here.

6.    Keep it local

Choose an agent that knows your area. They’ll know the characteristics of your postcode and the key things that will attract people to living there. They’ll also have the experience of selling properties similar to yours in the area.

7.    Check their opening hours

Times have changed and agents are now staying open later in the evenings and opening at the weekends to meet the needs of both buyers and sellers. Consider the times you’ll need to be in touch with them and factor this in to your decision.

8.    Take advantage of word-of-mouth

Ask friends, family and your work colleagues which agents they’ve used and what their experiences were like to get recommendations of reputable firms, as well as advice on things to look out for.

To search estate agents in your local area and for a free property valuation, visit s1homes.com