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Nope. As I said to you before - not a Dunoon Daftie 😏 (a friendly reminder).

I was worried that when I returned I would find the door locked and a sign on it saying 'No Square Feet allowed' or something along those lines, but the boss was surprisingly friendly. She readily agreed when I said that a serious conversation needed to be had about the price. It's given me hope again, but cautiously so.

I agree that there is something to be said for the slow, considered way of the farming community, but after two years on the books (during which time they had actually forgotten that they were selling it 😂) it really is time to sit up and take notice of me and my cash.

I went in to said office at the start of the week and became mildly irritated when told once again to just leave my deets to allow someone to ignore me more effectively. I startled everyone in earshot and made them all very uncomfortable by declining that kind offer - instead stating that I would come back in an hour and see if they had any progress to report. Upon my return I found that they had actually done something 😮 My query had been elevated to the boss and attempts had been made to contact the seller, but without success. I'm starting to worry that the seller might be ill or even passed away or something which would not be good at all for anyone concerned. They are going to snail-mail him and if that doesn't work I've suggested they send someone from the local office round to 'chap his door' as we say here (a 'chap at the door' meaning very different things in Scotland and England btw). I'm hoping that if nothing else, this will all strengthen my arm for future negotiations. I'm in no rush, I shall wait and see.

You speak truth. They can be a bit cosy. They all charge the same and can't be hurried. They really don't like being told to try harder. Having done this in Scotland and England, I've found Scottish agents to be much more proactive, energetic, truthful, straightforward and... well professional. And then they charge a lower percentage on what is already probably a cheaper prurchase.

This is very well stated. It's part of Scottish humour, "ma sides are bursting". That means I'm chuckling a lot having read this, enough to hurt myself. One part of the meaning is to say that profit is sanity, turnover is vanity. A corollary could be the way a Yorkshire Farmer conducts business.

Amazing quality of finish - excellent job 👏

You are right in that a low offer can get folks back up. In some ways if you have a plot with fab views, location etc you know has sat for a long time then there is probably challenges associated with it. This sounds counter intuitive. But in some cases it can also work if you make a high, but broadly caveat initial offer This indicates you are serious about it and have already done you research "as a lay person". The seller can see you have spent some cash to date. The objective is to get them engaged and then lead them towards what is the true value of the plot. That could be to do with services, potential land contamination etc. The benefit of doing it this way is that once engaged you educate the seller to the point where they realise that they are not selling a Rolls Royce but a potential pup and might think, hey I'll just get rid of it as the purchaser (you) has explained the true value, the risk you are willing to take on. The selling agent will also see your argument and might say.. this is the best offer you are going to get. @Square Feet "The plot is owned by a limited company so I was able to find the owner's details including age and address. " As an off the wall thought. There may be a significant tax implication to the seller. But you'll only find that out and if you help them mitigate by getting them to the table.

Congratulations. This has been a masterclass in successful self building by managing contractors! More important than that is the contractor selection, project management, etc, and I think it's you (with assist from Mrs P) that has done that so you can feel great satisfaction with how this project has gone. I'm guessing (maybe you said before) your background is in project management and if not it's an even greater achievement. When you have time and if you have the energy I and I'm sure many others on here would appreciate it if you could share as much as you can on your process for managing this project. What your average day looked like, tips and tricks, preparation, etc. I think this could be really useful for those of us with less project management experience!

Yeah that's a thought. It might be better for them in stage payments or something. I will bear in mind. I'm off to camp out in the agent's office today till I get to speak to someone who isn't going to file my enquiry under WPB (waste paper basket). Warning - classist statement incoming - I find that a lot of these rural land agent/estate agent offices are staffed by privileged middle-class offspring who just coast through life and do very little actual work whilst having lots of jolly chats with their chums in the farming/landed gentry community. Get wee Shanna fae Bathgate in there and she'd have the lot sold by the afternoon 😂