Moving to a new city is hard, and I don’t know what my partner and I would have done without Kirst
Moving to a new city is hard, and I don’t know what my partner and I would have done without Kirsty from Rettie and Co. We had planned on moving down to Edinburgh in August, probably the worst time of year to move to a city filled with Fringe Festival goers and students soon starting university. Combined with living outside of the city and having to travel from Aberdeen (roughly three hours including bathroom stops) to view properties, finding a flat that was suitable and in a decent condition was starting to feel impossible. We were on our third trip down and starting to feel downhearted. We previously had viewings with most of the larger lending companies in Edinburgh (SouthSide, Umega,Belvoir) and none of them seemed to care about viewers living situations, about the properties or know even basic information about them (double glazing/heating/council band). It was a nightmare. This is where Kirsty and Rettie and Co. made all the difference. I had met Kirsty a few weeks before our last visit after rushing from a job interview. She was honest about the property I was seeing and explained pro's and con's of the area and property (great nightlife, maybe not for light sleepers) and, after I mentioned we were having trouble finding a property, she explained that Rettie would be happy to help us through the process and to email the office with our requirements so that they could help. I stupidly didn't listen and it took two more trips to Edinburgh for my partner and me to see the light. On the last trip down we went to view a Rettie and Co. listed building and was pleasantly surprised to see Kirsty open the door and welcome us in. She recognised me and even asked how the interview had gone. From there we got talking and she made the same offer again. This time, we jumped on it! Within a day and a half we ended up seeing 5 more properties, with three of those being with Rettie. The difference between the other companies agents and Rettie was astounding. Kirsty knew the quirks of most of the properties and the surrounding areas, where as some of the other agents hardly seemed to know what day it was. By the weeks end we had a deposit sent through and the reference process underway. The best take away from the experience, in a city where the property market is so fast moving, is that Rettie and Co. treat you like an individual and will do their best to find a place that's right for you. You're THEIR client, not just another number. Thank you Kirsty and Rettie.