ESPC confirmed as the first-choice property source for local buyers and sellers

Independent market research has confirmed that ESPC is the preferred property portal of choice for local buyers and sellers, reinforcing its position as the most trusted and effective platform for those looking to buy or sell a home in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway.

A survey of over 550 local buyers and sellers revealed that espc.com is where most buyers would go first to find a property to buy, with 29% of respondents naming ESPC as their first port of call, compared to 25% for Rightmove.com and 18% for Zoopla.com.

Overall, espc.com was the most common source for buyers to use during their property search, with 75% of buyers saying they would use ESPC as part of their process, compared to 71% for both Rightmove and Zoopla.

The research revealed that sellers also value ESPC’s offering above that of competitor property platforms. 77% of sellers said that they’d like to see their property marketed on espc.com, compared to 70% for Rightmove, 57% for Zoopla and 42% for S1 Homes. In addition to this, 38% of respondents said they view espc.com as their first choice for where they’d like their property to be marketed, well above the closest competition of 22% for Rightmove.

ESPC’s monthly Property & Interiors magazine and its Property Lounge on Edinburgh’s George Street were also mentioned as preferred avenues for marketing by around one in five sellers.

This research shows that ESPC continues to lead the way in connecting homes with the right buyers. Backed by unrivalled local expertise and a deep understanding of the local market, ESPC allows buyers and sellers the chance to make confident property decisions. The portal itself offers a unique, multi-channel approach that ensures maximum exposure for sellers and a seamless experience for buyers, wherever they are on their property journey, through its easy-to-use website and unique search tools, a personal service in the ESPC Property Lounge, and a trusted monthly print publication that reaches 20,000 local readers.

ESPC CEO Paul Hilton said: “ESPC is dedicated to being a local service, rooted in the communities we serve, but offering an experience that feels as slick and seamless as that of a national brand. Across the business, we’ve worked incredibly hard to build a platform that’s tailored to what our customers need, and together with our membership of 110 ESPC solicitor estate agents, we are so proud to be offering a service that’s clearly meeting those needs. ESPC celebrates its 55th anniversary this month, and what could be a better gift than knowing that after more than half a century in business, we remain the portal of choice for home buyers and sellers in our key locations?”

This milestone comes as ESPC continues to invest in technology, customer service, and local partnerships - all designed to make the selling and buying experience smarter, smoother, and more personalised.

The research was conducted by Progressive during January and February 2026, via street interviews. 551 interviews were conducted, spanning homeowners and first-time buyers in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the surrounding areas that had bought or sold a home in the past five years, or are intending to do so in the next five years.