There’s been plenty of chatter lately about whether ESPC still makes a difference.
Spoiler alert: it absolutely does, and the data backs it up
Using an ESPC member firm comes with many benefits, including, on average, around £6,000 more in your pocket! That more than covers the few hundred pounds it costs to list on ESPC and then some.
Let’s take it from the start.
The ESPC isn’t just a generic property portal. It’s actually a membership organisation made up exclusively of Solicitor Estate Agents across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders.
Only Solicitor Estate Agency firms that meet ESPC’s professional, regulatory and ethical standards can list properties on espc.com, ensuring that every listing is handled with integrity, accuracy and accountability.
It means that the ESPC isn’t run for shareholders looking to maximise their profit margins.
The reality is, the ESPC is run by and for Solicitor Estate Agents and our clients, with a mission to raise standards, promote collaboration and protect consumers across the Scottish property market.
Here’s the truth that often gets overlooked in these comparisons: You cannot buy or sell a property in Scotland without a Solicitor.
Every property transaction in Scotland must be legally managed by a Solicitor: from the formal Offer and missives through to settlement and registration of title.
That’s what makes our system more secure, more transparent and less prone to fall-throughs that every seller is keen to avoid
The ESPC was built specifically around this model. Its member firms combine sales, marketing and legal expertise under one roof, giving clients a single point of contact and ensuring their sale or purchase is legally protected at every stage, with the transaction overseen by a Law Society of Scotland regulated Solicitor from start to finish
While independent or third-party agents can market property, they cannot complete a sale without instructing a Solicitor and they cannot market your property on the most important marketing platform locally: ESPC.com
Working with an ESPC member means that expertise is integrated from day one, combining market knowledge, sales and marketing strategy and legal compliance in one seamless service. And you have crucially chosen your Solicitor Estate Agent at the outset, no one is referring you elsewhere for their own personal gain.
A good estate agent should be clear: they act for the seller. If they’re also trying to sell you a mortgage, a legal service, or another product, be cautious. Transparency about fees, commission, kickbacks, targets and responsibilities is key.
ESPC agents Get More!
Property sellers advertising their listings with an ESPC agent receive around four times more enquiries than Rightmove, and Solicitor Estate Agents’ independently verified market research shows that on average solicitor estate agents achieved their sale clients 2% more above the Home Report valuation. That is A LOT of extra money for home sellers.
Recent ESPC data also shows average selling prices across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders rising by 4.3 % year-on-year, with the average sale price at £298,933, this translates to an extra £5,978.66 on average in your pocket when you use an ESPC agent!
That’s some exceptional marketing and negotiation skills right there!
In addition, here are some other important ESPC FACTS worth sharing:
ESPC Exclusive properties achieve 50% more views and receive faster Offers on average than non-Exclusive properties, due to local buyers’ appreciation for exclusive/see it first property content.
National portals like Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket offer broad exposure, but they lack local representation.
Their property reports and webinars are overwhelmingly England-centric – Scotland is often little more than a footnote – and their social channels rarely feature Scottish listings.
By contrast, ESPC is rooted here.
Its member firms live and work locally, know their communities inside out, and back every listing with regulated standards, instant Home Report access (which you cannot get on the national portals), and genuine face-to-face service.
I mean… really, when was the last time you saw a Scottish property featured on Rightmove, Zoopla or OnTheMarket’s social channels?
The ESPC, though – it’s all day, every day!
And while Rightmove often promotes its 65 million UK-wide monthly visits, that’s a national figure. It’s quite safe to say that someone house-hunting in Cornwall isn’t also browsing for a flat in Edinburgh!
According to the Registers of Scotland (RoS) 2024 “Country of Origin Report”, the data says:
That data proves what most local agents already know: Edinburgh buyers are overwhelmingly local.
So while national portals can help extend reach, the most qualified audience for your property is already searching right here on ESPC.com.
And here’s the thing: most ESPC solicitor estate agents already advertise on Rightmove and the other portals, so you’re not missing out on wider exposure. You’re simply gaining the added benefit of a team who knows your local market inside out and knows exactly how to reach your local EH buyers.
At the heart of George Street sits the new ESPC Property Lounge, a welcoming hub where buyers and sellers can receive impartial advice, browse listings, and speak directly with local property professionals.
Unlike visiting a single estate agent’s office, you’re not limited to viewing just that agent’s properties. At the ESPC Property Lounge, you can explore the entire range of homes listed by the collective ESPC member firms across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders, all in one place.
It’s a genuine community space designed to make property buying and selling more personal and accessible. It’s somewhere you can drop in, ask questions about the Scottish property buying and selling process, and get local advice from real experts.
And here’s the difference: no other property platform in the UK offers anything like it.
Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket might have search bars, but they don’t have a door you can walk through to speak to a local property expert face to face. That’s what truly sets ESPC, and its Solicitor Estate Agents, apart: it’s the people.
ESPC doesn’t just market homes for sale. They also advocate for Scotland’s property industry. The ESPC represents it’s member firms and consumers in discussions with:
Through regular training, round-table discussions and data-sharing events, ESPC keeps its members, and their clients, informed, connected and ahead of the market. It’s a true hub for Scotland’s property professionals, and our ESPC Solicitor Estate Agents are at the heart of it all.
If listing your property for sale on the ESPC through an ESPC Solicitor Estate Agent wasn’t so effective, others wouldn’t be trying so hard to join. Or, in some cases, trying to downplay its impact because they don’t meet the membership criteria.
Here’s the reality: over the past few years, several third-party estate agencies that aren’t traditional solicitor firms have sought ESPC membership, with some even exploring new business models to meet the criteria.
Because let’s be honest, if ESPC didn’t help firms sell more homes and reach more buyers, why would so many be so eager to get in?
That alone speaks volumes.
After all, imitation isn’t just the sincerest form of flattery – in this case, it’s a business strategy.
So, to ESPC or not to ESPC?
It’s hardly a question. Immediately YES!
ESPC isn’t “just another portal.”
It’s the foundation of how property is bought and sold in East Central Scotland. It’s a trusted community, a knowledge hub, and a collective group of solicitor estate agents who do things the right way, and help their clients ‘Get More’!
Always follow the data and facts, and check your sources
Sources:
https://espc.com/news/post/espc-confirmed-as-a-top-property-source-for-local-buyers-and-sellers
https://espc.com/media/10805/where-do-espc-buyers-come-from-report-august-2024-1.pdf?
https://www.ros.gov.uk/about/news/2025/country-of-origin-report-news-release-march-2024
Louisa joined Coulters in 2022 to manage the Estate Agency team across all three branches. She brings over 20 years experience in residential property within the Edinburgh and Lothians sector, as well as excellent knowledge of the valuation, marketing and purchasing of properties.
Prior to joining Coulters, Louisa worked for Simpson & Marwick, where she joined as a Valuer in 2008, before going on to qualify as a Chartered Surveyor.
At home, Louisa is a mother to her two little girls, and she enjoys gardening and working on DIY projects in her spare time.
