Selling - Development Sites

Chalmers & Co has extensive experience of appraising and selling development sites, and negotiating option agreements. We have many clients, both farmers and landowners, in East Lothian, Midlothian and the Borders, who ask us to carry out appraisals, provide advice and market their land and redundant buildings.

Chalmers & Co is one of the only East Lothian-based firms of chartered surveyors with an Architectural Services department. This means that we can provide a full range of Architectural Services, including Construction Project Management and Property Development Services. We understand the planning system and the construction process, and have a good range of local planning and construction contacts.

Selling development sites can be complicated but we can help you navigate any issues, such as Section 75 costs, 'abnormal' costs, services and planning issues.

We have a very extensive, up-to-date database of developers actively looking for development opportunities in East Lothian, Midlothian and the Borders. This database is added to every time we market a development site. We are also retained to acquire development opportunities on behalf of developers.

In more detail, Chalmers & Co's property development services include:

  • Advice on the best ways to add value to the development opportunity, bearing in mind current planning policy and guidance; and whether it is best to sell the site with planning permission, subject to planning, or based on an option.
  • Selection of promotional team for large commercial developments.
  • Providing our comprehensive Chalmers Marketing Plan with an integrated sales and marketing strategy covering:
    • Designing a stunning brochure, approved by you before being printed by a professional printer. This would use aerial photographs to show off the development opportunity, emphasize all the key selling points, and include a location plan, site plan and reduced architect's plans (as required).
    • Developing developers' information packs with plans, reports and planning consents to accompany the sales brochure.
    • Mailing brochures and packs to all appropriate potential developers in our database.
    • Displaying the site in our shop windows in Haddington, using a similar style to the front cover of your property's brochure.
    • Erecting distinctive, customised 'For Sale' boards in highly visible locations.
    • Promoting your property on some of the most effective Internet property portals with 6 or more good photographs, a location plan and electronic version of the brochure. These include: Rightmove.co.uk, the UK's largest property portal used by over 90% of UK estate agents and many leading developers; S1Homes.com, Scotland's leading independent property portal where over 100,000 brochures are downloaded every month; and Scotsman.com which lists all properties advertised in the Scotsman.
    • Promoting your development site on our own website with up to 12 photographs. Our website has been search engine optimized and many sale property brochures are read by over 100 potential purchasers.
    • Implementing an integrated press advertising campaign in the most appropriate local and national papers, probably including the commercial pages of the Scotsman, with an aerial photograph and selected selling messages.
    • Providing PR services to secure editorial coverage (where appropriate). This will be done in tandem with any press advertising.
  • Providing an agreed, cost effective marketing budget.
  • Meeting developers on site.
  • Providing regular Client Updates with feedback on viewings and the progress of the marketing campaign.
  • Setting a closing date or negotiating a sale at an attractive price. We will negotiate and agree the key terms with the selected developer and liaise with our client's solicitors.

Please call us now on 01620 824986 or email us for advice on your development site or development requirements.