If you’re planning to sell your home in Scotland, you’ll need a home report - a legal requirement for all properties on the market. A home report provides valuable information for both sellers and buyers and helps ensure a smooth, transparent sale.  

 Compiled by a qualified surveyor, a home report includes a single survey and valuation, a mortgage valuation so your buyer can obtain financing, and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which monitors the energy efficiency of your home. It also contains a property questionnaire detailing practical information about your home, such as council tax, parking, and legal matters.  

Home reports have a lifespan of 12 weeks. If a property doesn’t sell within that period, the report may need to be refreshed, particularly the valuation, to reflect current market conditions. This ensures that buyers always have accurate, up-to-date information.  

Surveyors are accountable to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), a respected professional body that upholds strict standards of ethics, expertise, and impartiality. This means the valuation is independent and reliable.  

Here at maloco mowat parker, we can instruct the home report on your behalf, using a panel of approved and highly regarded local surveyors. While the surveyor determines the official valuation of your home, it’s important to remember that a property’s true value is always dependent on the market – a home is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. That’s why we work hard to maximise every opportunity, using marketing, presentation, and buyer engagement to achieve the best possible sale.  

For unusual properties, or homes with few comparables, involving a local surveyor early can be particularly helpful. Their insights guide our strategy and help position your home optimally for sale.  

It’s also important to understand the difference between an estate agent valuation and a RICS surveyor valuation. An estate agent valuation is an estimate of what your home could achieve on the market, taking into account demand, marketing, and buyer behaviour. The RICS valuation is a formal, independent assessment primarily for mortgage purposes, focused on condition and comparables rather than market dynamics.  

Having a home report in place early can give you a head start in the selling process. At maloco mowat parker, we can guide you through every step, liaise with trusted local surveyors, and help ensure your property is ready to sell for the best possible price.