A note of interest is your solicitor formally telling the seller's agent: "my client is seriously interested, keep us informed." It costs nothing, commits you to nothing, and it's the first tactical decision most Scottish buyers make without realising it's a tactical decision at all.
What noting interest actually does
- It puts you on the list. By professional convention, the selling agent shouldn't sell the property or set a closing date without giving noted parties the chance to offer. (Convention, not law: sellers can and occasionally do accept a knockout early offer regardless.)
- It signals demand to everyone. Each note of interest tells the seller their pricing worked, and agents will often tell other enquirers how many notes exist. Your note makes the property look more competitive.
- It commits you to nothing. No fee, no obligation to offer, no legal effect. Buyers note interest in several properties at once all the time.
The tactical wrinkle nobody explains
Notes of interest are the only public-ish signal of competition in the entire offers-over system, and the information is asymmetric. The agent knows exactly how many exist; you know only what they choose to tell you. Two questions worth asking the agent directly (they'll usually answer): "How many notes of interest are there?" and "Has a closing date been discussed?" The answers should shape whether you wait, offer early, or walk.
When to note, and when to just offer
- Note interest early if you're serious but not ready: it protects you from the property selling quietly while you arrange viewings or your mortgage agreement.
- Consider an early offer instead when the property is freshly listed and you're ready to move: a strong offer before competition accumulates sometimes takes the property off the market without ever facing a closing date. This is where knowing the local sold-vs-asking pattern matters most. An early offer calibrated to real local results is credible; a guess is either wasted or overpaid.
- If notes are stacking up, prepare for a closing date: get your mortgage agreement in principle sorted, read the Home Report properly, and gather the local evidence before the deadline lands; agents sometimes give only 48 hours' notice.
Check your area, free
The latest published headline figure. No email required.Noted interest and waiting? Use the time well: we'll research what homes like it actually sold for, before the closing date lands.
Get your report for £15Quick answers
Does noting interest cost anything?
Usually nothing. Most solicitors lodge notes of interest free for clients (and it's often the first step of engaging one). Ask when you instruct.
How many notes of interest trigger a closing date?
No fixed number. It's the seller's call. Agents often start discussing one at two or more notes. Some homes sell with five notes and no closing date; others go to one quickly.
Can the seller ignore my note and sell to someone else?
Legally yes. The convention is that you'll be given a chance to offer, but it isn't enforceable. This is why serious buyers with finance ready sometimes skip straight to a strong early offer.
Should I note interest on multiple properties?
Completely normal and sensible: it keeps options open at zero cost. Just track which Home Reports you've read and keep your solicitor in the loop.
Related reading: closing dates explained · the complete offers-over guide · how much over the Home Report?