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Viewing Trip

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 11:19am
25 replies1461 views10 members subscribed
max1954

Posts: 7

Location: Benijofar

Joined: 20 Sep 2019

I have seen an advert which looks very professional and reassuring for a viewing trip by Spanish Legal Homes.  It has references to 'A Place in the Sun' which seems reassuring but I am wondering if anyone else has used this company.

I want to buy a place in Spain as I am now retired and fed up of British rain and am wondering if anyone else has used this company.  Seems very reasonable for £99.  Any comments please would be very helpful before I decide.

 Many thanks

Max

Cheryl

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 12:09pm

Cheryl

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Location: Albatera

Joined: 8 Jun 2017

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 12:09pm

Hello Max, there are mixed thoughts on viewing trips. Some have said they were brilliant, sorted everything out, found the place of their dreams etc, others are not quite so impressed.
It may involve being met at the airport by the salesman and it will probably be midweek. You will be chaperoned by them for almost every minute of the trip, possibly staying in a hotel which is quite remote to make sure you don't get too much time to do much else if you have any energy left at the end of the day. If you find a property they will offer to get your NIE, set up a bank account and find an abogado (solicitor) which makes it so much easier for you but this could be a mistake.
They will possibly create a sense of urgency but there are thousands of all types of property for sale here so you will have time to go back home and look through the different banks and which will suit you best, including the availability of ATMs as you can usually only withdraw from your own bank without incurring charges. Banking is not free here generally and some will either have no English speaking staff or websites.
Google "Should I use an independent solicitor to buy property in Spain" and you will see why you need to avoid a conflict of interests. Some will find out too late that parts of their property are illegal extensions or under-builds were illegally turned into living accommodation.

Some areas can be very quiet in winter or manic in summer and it can get very chilly in Spanish properties once the sun goes down so you will need heating. If you get it wrong it will be a very expensive mistake which could take months, if not years to sell.
Come on the trip but do not commit to anything would be my advice. Book a few more independent trips at different times of the year and contact local estate agents here to line up viewings with you. Casas Manuel are one of a few that get good reviews on here. It may also be useful to come out for 90 day trips, one in high summer and maybe January to March if this is feasible to get used to how your day to day would pan out when no longer in holiday mode. 
I'm not sure how much you know about the recent devastating storms in the region in which the Vega Baja has been particularly badly affected. It has been a once in a lifetime Gota Fría (cold drop) but these do happen every year in Spring and Autumn at a lesser level. This time we not only got almost a year's rain in one day but then floodgates had to be opened, people have died and homes and cars have been washed away. We still have hundreds of families living in shelters, the army has been called in, crops have been ruined and it really is an emergency situation here. I'm saying this really so you are aware as I don't believe the scale of this has been expressed in the press.

mack

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 12:52pm

mack

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Location: Playa Flamenca

Joined: 28 Jan 2018

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 12:52pm

Rent first  in the area u fancy see if u really like it winter is cold at night good during the day see houses at your own leisure rather than getting forced to see a property in a area u dont like by these viewing trips 

Mack

RobScot

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 1:20pm

RobScot

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Posts: 252

288 helpful points

Location: Benimar

Joined: 10 Apr 2019

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 1:20pm

Hi Max,

We used Spanish Legal Homes for a viewing trip in Sept last year prior to us buying our current property in Benimar. The agent who picked us up at the airport, Ricardo couldn’t have been more helpful but unfortunately most of the property they had on their books at the time just weren’t what we were looking for and despite repeatedly telling him that over the three days he couldn’t show us what they didn’t have so we went home empty handed but it was a good way for us to get an idea of the area we were looking for. 

We subsequently booked our own trip and arranged to view properties we selected mainly on the books of Casas Manuel and couldn’t recommend them higher. Mike Fraser took time out from his weekend to show us the properties we selected and after a second viewing made an offer and secured the property we have now been living in for 6 months.

Rob.

mack

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 4:03pm

mack

Helpful member

Posts: 246

256 helpful points

Location: Playa Flamenca

Joined: 28 Jan 2018

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 4:03pm

Also remember if you see a house at

diffrent estate estate agents who ever takes you round can also get the keys to do a viewing as its commission for them also 

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max1954

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 5:01pm

max1954

Original Poster

Posts: 7

Location: Benijofar

Joined: 20 Sep 2019

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 5:01pm

ROB SCOT  Quoted:-

unfortunately most of the property they had on their books at the time just weren’t what we were looking for and despite repeatedly telling him that over the three days he couldn’t show us what they didn’t have so we went home empty handed

We subsequently booked our own trip and arranged to view properties we selected mainly on the books of Casas Manuel and couldn’t recommend them higher. 

After seeing the reply above it confirmed what I thought all along.  Viewing trips may seem attractive but in the end, you can only see what they have, and in your case - they had nothing.  I have been looking to see what SpanishLegalHomes have on their books and there is nothing that I like so I hardly think there will be an influx.  I had not heard of Casas Manuel and looked at their web site so I have made a note of eleven properties.  I contacted them and they even agreed to pick me up from the Airport.  You can't get better than that.  I will simply purchase my own flight (£79) and I will arrange for b&b for two nights.  If it works, then fine and if not I can go and do the same thing again without any pressure.  I do like being in control of all my to-ings and fro-ings. 

Thank you Cheryl for your help.

Regards

Max  

RobScot

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 5:41pm

RobScot

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Posts: 252

288 helpful points

Location: Benimar

Joined: 10 Apr 2019

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 5:41pm

Casas Manuel are one of the featured estate agents on Channel 4’s programme “Sun, Sea and Selling Houses” which starts a new series at 4pm in the U.K. on Mon.

BTL

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 11:40pm

BTL

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Posts: 90

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Location: Orihuela Costa

Joined: 28 May 2018

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 11:40pm

Be wary, these are high pressure salesmen, if you think you are getting a freebie holiday in the sun then think again.

20kiki

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 12:46pm

20kiki

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Posts: 581

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Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 5 Apr 2017

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 12:46pm

many of these Viewing companies will arrange flights and accommodation but expect you to pay for the flights and will only refund £99 to the buyer after purchase!.............always check the wording and small print

John56

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:17pm

John56

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Posts: 2995

5634 helpful points

Location: La Zenia

Joined: 7 Jul 2016

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:17pm

max1954 wrote on Sat Sep 21, 2019 11:19am:

I have seen an advert which looks very professional and reassuring for a viewing trip by Spanish Legal Homes.  It has references to 'A Place in the Sun' which seems reassuring but I am wondering if anyone else has used this company.

I want to buy a place in Spain as I am now retired and fed up of British rain and am wondering if anyone else has used this company.  Seems very reasonable for £99.  Any comments please would be very helpful before I decide....

...

 Many thanks

Max

Knowing the unscrupulous nature of many cowboy estate agents operating on the Costa the reference to A Place In The Sun probably means they have watched a few episodes, 🤨

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