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Viewing trip recommendations

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 11:37am
7 replies187 views5 members subscribed
dhs1809

Posts: 6

Location: Ontinyent

Joined: 7 Mar 2022

Hi There, we have sold our property in UK and were planning on possibly doing a couple of viewing trips with property companies, there are a good few offering 3-4 day free viewing trips but i wondered if anyone coud recommend one they have used please.

Many thanks

Diane

Cheryl

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 12:47pm

Cheryl

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 2973

3533 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 8 Jun 2017

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 12:47pm

I wouldn't recommend any of them. 3 or 4 days is nowhere near long enough unless you already know the area very well indeed. With most of them, if you don't commit to a purchase, they don't get paid so there will be a lot of pressure on you and you will only get to see what they want to show you.
Book yourself some flights, a hotel and a hire car and just get the feel of different areas. 
For example, you have put the area as Ontinyent so you will automatically need a car
In a previous post you wanted to rent a villa with a pool so if this is the type of property you are looking for, unless it is a new build then you will spend a fortune trying to keep warm during the winter months as it will probably be of single skin construction with little or no insulation. Ontinyent is roughly 400m above sea level and it will feel much colder than your lovely cosy home in the UK despite what the temperature charts suggest, in fact, on a sunny day it will be warmer outside than in.
Most importantly if you have already sold your UK property this year then you don't want to start applying for your NLV yet because if you get your TIE in the first half of the year you will be liable to Spanish tax from 1/1/2022 which will include CGT on the sale.
As it is the Spanish consulates in the UK are on indefinite strike so this may be a blessing for you.

wrypop

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 4:01pm

wrypop

Helpful member

Posts: 139

142 helpful points

Location: La Romana

Joined: 12 Jan 2017

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 4:01pm

Cheryl wrote on Tue Mar 15, 2022 12:47pm:

I wouldn't recommend any of them. 3 or 4 days is nowhere near long enough unless you already know the area very well indeed. With most of them, if you don't commit to a purchase, they don't get paid so there will be a lot of pressure on you and you will only get to see what they want to show you....

...
Book yourself some flights, a hotel and a hire car and just get the feel of different areas. 
For example, you have put the area as Ontinyent so you will automatically need a car
In a previous post you wanted to rent a villa with a pool so if this is the type of property you are looking for, unless it is a new build then you will spend a fortune trying to keep warm during the winter months as it will probably be of single skin construction with little or no insulation. Ontinyent is roughly 400m above sea level and it will feel much colder than your lovely cosy home in the UK despite what the temperature charts suggest, in fact, on a sunny day it will be warmer outside than in.
Most importantly if you have already sold your UK property this year then you don't want to start applying for your NLV yet because if you get your TIE in the first half of the year you will be liable to Spanish tax from 1/1/2022 which will include CGT on the sale.
As it is the Spanish consulates in the UK are on indefinite strike so this may be a blessing for you.

Excellent advice.

elinspain

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 4:35pm

elinspain

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 3222

4099 helpful points

Location: La Mata

Joined: 4 May 2018

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 4:35pm

Cheryl wrote on Tue Mar 15, 2022 12:47pm:

I wouldn't recommend any of them. 3 or 4 days is nowhere near long enough unless you already know the area very well indeed. With most of them, if you don't commit to a purchase, they don't get paid so there will be a lot of pressure on you and you will only get to see what they want to show you....

...
Book yourself some flights, a hotel and a hire car and just get the feel of different areas. 
For example, you have put the area as Ontinyent so you will automatically need a car
In a previous post you wanted to rent a villa with a pool so if this is the type of property you are looking for, unless it is a new build then you will spend a fortune trying to keep warm during the winter months as it will probably be of single skin construction with little or no insulation. Ontinyent is roughly 400m above sea level and it will feel much colder than your lovely cosy home in the UK despite what the temperature charts suggest, in fact, on a sunny day it will be warmer outside than in.
Most importantly if you have already sold your UK property this year then you don't want to start applying for your NLV yet because if you get your TIE in the first half of the year you will be liable to Spanish tax from 1/1/2022 which will include CGT on the sale.
As it is the Spanish consulates in the UK are on indefinite strike so this may be a blessing for you.

Hello

 Great advice from Cheryl & just to add to her post..... Don't let the "Free" viewing trip sway  you,  they often use a hotel close to me with beautiful sea views & 100s of 2nd hand properties for sale  in the area  but --  they want you to buy new builds only , often off plan,  in  inland towns/villages, some with minimum facilities ( (no building space  left on the coast in this area). 

They wine & dine you but want to get your signature & deposit before you fly back.

Think carefully about how you procede...

Cheers

Elinspain

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Rob60

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 10:57pm

Rob60

Helpful member

Posts: 243

316 helpful points

Location: Ontinyent

Joined: 12 Mar 2022

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 10:57pm

dhs1809 wrote on Tue Mar 15, 2022 11:37am:

Hi There, we have sold our property in UK and were planning on possibly doing a couple of viewing trips with property companies, there are a good few offering 3-4 day free viewing trips but i wondered if anyone coud recommend one they have used please.

Many thanks

Diane

Firstly, I'm biased, because my wife and I now live in Ontinyent and I think you have made a good choice. 

During our 2 year search of the Northern Costa Blanca area for our future home, we always made our own travel and accommodation arrangements for our visits. We also organised individual days with different agents during our stay after choosing properties we were interested in from their websites This gives you far more flexibility and doesn't tie you to one particular agent. 

If your initial location choice is Ontinyent then you can't go wrong with the family run Dolphen Homes as your first contact. We purchased our new home through them and the owners, Julian and Marijse, are immensely helpful with great local knowledge and a diverse and extensive portfolio of properties. 

I wish you the best of luck with your search.

Davebev1

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2022 9:23am

Davebev1

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 1559

2197 helpful points

Location: Playa Flamenca

Joined: 7 Nov 2017

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2022 9:23am

Ideally rent a holiday let property for a couple of weeks, similar to the style and size you plan to buy for your visits.  Don't treat it like a holiday though, live in the house, use local shops and spend your free time visiting different villages and towns to look at amenities - list pros and cons for each place you like.  List what is important to you, what aspects really matter - this may change once you have spent a few days there.  Think long-term too, buying and selling in Spain is an expensive business so you need to get it right first time and the property will need to meet your needs as grow older.  Your NLV will take a while (especially with the strikes), so you can probably visit a couple of times to visit different towns.  You need to choose WHERE you want to be first, you can adapt and change the inside of a house to your own taste but you cannot change its location.  Speak to locals.  Older villas are usually not insulated, newer ones are.  Think about car dependency too, what happens if one of you can no longer drive?

This is a massive decision that needs to be made with no pressure.  You need to be buying with your head as well as your heart, so if you fall in love with a property then take a step back and take time to think things through.  The right property is out there for you but it may take time to find, there is no rush.  You may even find it useful to rent for the first 6 months after coming to Spain before committing to a purchase.  

dhs1809

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2022 7:36am

dhs1809

Original Poster

Posts: 6

Location: Ontinyent

Joined: 7 Mar 2022

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2022 7:36am

thanks everyone for the very useful advice and for taking the time to reply

gina55

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2022 4:27pm

Posts: 8

Location: Ontinyent

Joined: 30 May 2022

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2022 4:27pm

Cheryl wrote on Tue Mar 15, 2022 12:47pm:

I wouldn't recommend any of them. 3 or 4 days is nowhere near long enough unless you already know the area very well indeed. With most of them, if you don't commit to a purchase, they don't get paid so there will be a lot of pressure on you and you will only get to see what they want to show you....

...
Book yourself some flights, a hotel and a hire car and just get the feel of different areas. 
For example, you have put the area as Ontinyent so you will automatically need a car
In a previous post you wanted to rent a villa with a pool so if this is the type of property you are looking for, unless it is a new build then you will spend a fortune trying to keep warm during the winter months as it will probably be of single skin construction with little or no insulation. Ontinyent is roughly 400m above sea level and it will feel much colder than your lovely cosy home in the UK despite what the temperature charts suggest, in fact, on a sunny day it will be warmer outside than in.
Most importantly if you have already sold your UK property this year then you don't want to start applying for your NLV yet because if you get your TIE in the first half of the year you will be liable to Spanish tax from 1/1/2022 which will include CGT on the sale.
As it is the Spanish consulates in the UK are on indefinite strike so this may be a blessing for you.

That is so sad, hearing it is warmer outside than in, during the winter.  I know I am being optimistic and presumptuous.    I thought I sent this email back in March.    Anyway, we are now coming out for 10 days on the 1st Oct to look at areas, if we like, we will rent for 6mths first, before buying.   Thank you Cheryl.   Gina   P.s. Are you glad you have bought out there and do you often miss the UK?

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interior building work
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Thy Will Be Done
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James Spanish School
Gentlevan Removals
Espana Dream Properties
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