Advice re Estate Agents - Page 2

Susan 66 wrote on Wed Jun 1, 2022 1:24pm:

Hi Kim

Thanks very much for the information it was very helpful and answered all my questions!

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So therefore, we would like to ask for recommendations for estate agents, we are looking to buy area of Ciudad Quesada and within approx 10 miles.  So any personal recommendations for estate agents which cover this area would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Susan

Davebev1 wrote on Thu Jun 2, 2022 8:45am:

Despite the claim that all agents show each other's properties, there are several who wont allow others to show theirs and, if you think about it, any agent would be financially hurting themselves to promote one they haven't listed as less commission for them.  

Location is the first things to decide - once you know where you want to be visit local agents and drive around the area to look for private sale signs or signs for agents not in the same town too....

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Second is to sign up with a local INDEPENDENT lawyer, and make all your financial transactions via your lawyer only. 

Remember that as soon as you contact an agent they will consider you their direct client and refuse other agents to show them their properties even if they do property share usually (and, as I said, some never do anyway), so don't restrict yourselves - this is a big investment and you need to get the best property for you.

Having said that, don't go out with ten different agents looking at all and sundry.  Make your requirements list out in writing, the things that are non-negotiable such as number of bedrooms, location, having a pool, proximity to beach/shops etc; then things that are desired but not essential; and finally list all absolute no-goes, which could be road noise, orientation, lack of outside space etc.  This is about what matters to you in a property, not what the agent wants to show you.  Make those things known to the agent.  You can refuse to look at anything, you are not obliged to go inside if you have said not on a main road and it is on a main road etc.  Better to look at 5 properties that meet your criteria than 30 properties which don't.

Susan 66 wrote on Wed Jun 1, 2022 1:24pm:

Hi Kim

Thanks very much for the information it was very helpful and answered all my questions!

Read more...

So therefore, we would like to ask for recommendations for estate agents, we are looking to buy area of Ciudad Quesada and within approx 10 miles.  So any personal recommendations for estate agents which cover this area would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Susan

Kimmy11 wrote on Wed Jun 1, 2022 1:08pm:

Hi Susan 66,

It's not accurate to say that all estate agents have access to all available properties, but many will tell you that.  Many agents do cultivate good relationships with other agents and will share the commission if they sell each other's properties (as was the case when we bought our house).&...

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...nbsp; However, agents don't typically like to share commission and if you only work with one, you'll likely only see the properties where they are the sole selling agent.

From my own experience, I would say that it comes down to who you're comfortable to work with.  I contacted at least 10 agents: a couple didn't respond at all, some responded but never followed up, one appeared to be very responsive, even arranging a couple of viewings on properties we thought were their listings, only to find that when we went to their office at the pre-arranged meeting time, the agent wasn't there and a colleague in the office said the properties were sold anyway!  We made 4 viewing trips from the UK of no longer than 5 days each time, so needed agents who were focused on what we wanted.  I'd highly recommend spending time on the phone with a selection of agents, or visit their offices if you're already in Spain.  We did viewings with 3 of the agents, but whittled it down to the one who listened to what we both wanted and always did what she said she was going to do.  Ultimately, she found the perfect property for us, which wasn't on the main Spanish property portals, Idealista and Kyero, because the primary selling agent only advertises on their own website. 

I'd also say to be aware of "property finders" - many have low overheads, because they don't have offices, but as the buyer you may not get a good deal.  Friends of mine used one and paid at least €30k more than they needed to have done and discovered months later, through the vendor's brother, that the property finder took that amount as commission, with the vendor receiving considerably less than my friends thought was the list price.  I'm sure the property finder would say that the vendor received an amount they were content to accept and the buyer was happy to pay that amount, but ultimately, they both felt duped.

If you're happy to share the type of property that you're looking for and in which areas, members may be able to recommend good agents - as well as those to avoid.

Kind regards,

Kim