recent property search
 

I have just returned from a property hunt on the CDS (fuengirola area). I would like to share my observations and hope some of you guys can shed some light or insight into my experiences.

We want buy a villa/townhouse on the CDS, we spent three months compiling lists of properties from websites and Kyero etc. We had a file with shortlists etc.

We had one agent contacted with one of the lists to show us as many as possible.

We went with 3 agents in total after ringing more ads in Sur (paper) , None of them showed us any of our short listed properties, when we showed them the papers they sort of said you do not want to see that!

Some of the agents simply operated by mobile with a website and basically met the selling agent and passed us over to them (shared commission I guess).

They all said just how busy the market is, and were very reluctant to put forward offers that were not within 5k of asking price. I thought the market was dire with few viewers (opinion from forums and articles).

Some of the properties were so poor and still were being sold at 300k we were quite shocked, one in particular was cramped, totally cowboyed, damp and you needed to be Chris bonnington to cut the grass, they would never sell it in my opinion.

The whole experience seemed desperate, shady and non transparent.

On my next visit can anybody give us any tips to improve our experience.


regards

LPH

Re: recent property search
 

I would suggest that is norm for shoddy agents. You really need to select a better agent. I am not familiar with those in your chosen area, perhaps others can advise.

Re: recent property search
 

Yes I agree with Missile. The coast is full of people working from their home. A lot of properties on their websites are just copied off others and they are just to draw you in. They don't always have authority to sell them. Choose one that has a visible presence in the area. Not saying that indicates they are perfect but it's a start.

Re: recent property search
 

agree with the others, afraid it isnt regulated in the same way as in the UK

some websites show a property 3 or even 4 times, sometimes with different prices, but usually the same.
then it becomes a game of "hunt the agent", cos which one is actually authorised to sell

you may get an agent to meet you, go to the property and then meet up with the agent really responsible for the sale, who will have a % deal for introducing you.

you get your pulse racing about a property, nice area, good location but when you get there find it is 10miles away nowhere near where you were considering.
and thats before entering a good clean, well kept property to find it is a wreck or totally unfinished.
one property we visited the owner wanted a signature on lease so he could start 3months of work to get it habitable inside. presumably using lease to obtain bank loan.

we have given our details to 5 agents who reckon they have rentals to suit us coming in every day. 3months later still waiting.:thumbdown:

just don't get me started on uk estate agents today....:frown:

Re: recent property search
 

I would suggest you scan the property section or even place an ad in fre rags for your chosen location.

Re: recent property search
 

been there, done that, have ad in the BE classifieds

also OH works with Spanish who havent been able to come up with anything better than we have done
(we actually want to move out of a flat to a house)

rgds

Re: recent property search
 

Have a browse at this site. I know nothing about them but I do know they have been around for as long as I can remember. At least they have an office!

http://www.mendoza-es.com/contact.php

Re: recent property search
 

When we show people property, we show them what they want to see, and any others that we feel meet their criteria. We will spend the day with them showing them the area as well. We will also put forward any offers as there are a lot of people desperate to sell, and you never know - they might accept!!

Not all estate agents are like the ones that you met, some of us are actually quite nice!!

Re: recent property search
 

cazzy, yep some are quite nice - know well a spanish agency, who have come up trumps for us before

"english" ? well when you are in the middle of house sale and agent in spain says wont talk to us about buying a property before we sell - sums it up nicely thanks

:thumbdown:

Re: recent property search
 

"english" ? well when you are in the middle of house sale and agent in spain says wont talk to us about buying a property before we sell - sums it up nicely thanks

Can't understand why they wont talk to you, a lot of agents have hit hard times. By treating customers in this way things will get harder!!

Re: recent property search
 

No way would I spend a day with one agent, that's for suckers. If I have seen a property that interests me then I made an appointment to view. No timewasting trailing around the rubbish:thumbdown:

Re: recent property search
 

in case you havent noticed, but.....
this is Spain's shutdown period, what we used to call Miners Fortnight.

they have all gone away for 2-3 months to their country residence's to get away from the heat. even the little ferreteria down the road has shut for 2months, back early Sept.

good job there isnt a recession
:huh:

Re: recent property search
 

Jacky thats for wannabe's, who try to cram in 6 or more viewings in a day, in the hope one of them may be right.
same sort of people do Granada in the morning and Cadiz in the afternoon before jetting off to Roma

Re: recent property search
 

I could go on and on about the shortcomings of some of the English estate agents here in Spain, thankfully they are the ones who have mostly now gone out of business!
The best way to find one that is reliable is by recommendation, then insist they show you the kind of property you are looking for and that's within your budget....there are more than enough out there, no matter what they say to the contrary!

Re: recent property search
 

Thanks for the link. The agents have a comprehensive list, and I don't know if it's only me, I haven't been down to the CDS for a while, but I thought there was some dire stuff on there.

Re: recent property search
 

Why do we still need estate agents in this day and age? Just asking.

Re: recent property search
 

Dunno! We have bought privately a few times but have only managed to sell without an agent once. Even if you call the scribbled se vende signs in some properties they still turn out to be agents when you call. I did see one on that website that I know. Selling at 450,000. The developers price a few years ago was 600,000+

Re: recent property search
 

Some of us don't.....I found our house on the Internet, some people though do need help as they perhaps don't know the areas as well as we did before the move. :)

Re: recent property search
 

When we were looking for our house, we had many "no shows" from property agents. They'd make the appointment, we'd show up, but they wouldn't - and we'd never hear from them again.

By my standards, I find that to be nothing less than idiotic - especially when they have a paying client in the hand. But I understand this (and other, unethical) kind of behaviour is common in Spain.

Then we had the brilliant idea just to look houses up on the internet, find out where they are, go look for ourselves, and if there is someone in the house, either discuss it directly, or give us the contact of the owner directly, and negotiate privately with them.

Long story short, we ended buying ours privately, saving many €thousands in agent fees. But it was a lot of work.

Re: recent property search
 

Not that I would begrudge you, or the vendors, the savings....indeed it's something I'd consider doing myself.... but wouldn't this be against the rules'n'regs in the UK, because you only knew of the property after viewing it on someone's commercial website? Does this apply in Spain? Honestly not being a jobsworth, just asking because the UK now has so many of these restrictions which I think technically are EU-wide, but don't seem to apply here:unsure:;)

Re: recent property search
 

This is Spain. Lots of things are technically prohibited.
It's prohibited for property agents to defraud clients, but they still do it and get away with it. So does Endesa, Telefonica, and lots of others.

The prevailing wisdom is that it's your fault if you allow yourself to be ripped off. I guess we've integrated well. We just didn't allow it :cool:

Re: recent property search
 

the problem we have found is, as said before, the property is quoted as being in X , or 5mins from Y. You think great, like that area, when you meet agent at a roundabout in Z and find its nowhere near X, Y, or Z.

it would appear some people think the agents are great and other, such as me, have no trust in nearly everyone. I can only go by the experiences gained over the past few months.

even in the uk they try it on, we entered into a 20week contract, only when just prior to it ending did we find there was a further 28 days at the end of the 20weeks. Something we hadnt realised, in fact originally believed we had to give 28days notice of end of contract.

there may be a moral responsibility to use the agent, but if s\he isnt performing then what is the problem ? why give someone money for not doing what they contracted to do.? although I suppose it could be said we do with bankers and pension fund managers.?

Re: recent property search
 

I guess I'm just getting old - I sound like my father more and more often these days...

But I do remember the days when personal integrity was important. If you characterised something in a particular way, or promised something to someone, and it turned out to be not what you promised, then your credibility would be lost. And word would get around quickly.

But nowadays it seems that it's expected that there will always be something in anything anyone says, advertises, or promises that, at the end of the day, will turn out to be absolute bollocks, or at least a grand exaggeration.. And it's always your problem to take them to the mat, which we rarely do, because it's too complicated and we decide it's not worth it.

..and the biggest and most reputable are often the worst culprits. They know our psychology better than we do, and use it to their advantage...

IMHO, the only way to fight fire is with fire.. be equally bold and clever .. always arrange for the onus to be on them to fight you. In the end... they'll usually do the same - just sigh and walk away - it's too much work for them. They have other people to nick.

It works more often than not.

Re: recent property search
 

and I thought it was only me that was getting like his father - although we should both be looking at it as a complment to both that they have brought us up correctly.

afraid I still try to operate to the personal integrity standard. I feel guilty when i see someone i "owe" to. I had someone have a go at me because I hadnt kept a promise, I looked at them, smiled and said "yes, I failed, and now I will have to make it up to you". takes the air out of their sails and reduces the anger level, they generally get all apologetic for keeping on about it. but I have found it best not to fail a second time.

as I find I must perform I also expect others to perform. perhaps too often they fail, no thoughts about it, their managers make up excuses for them. so why should I have to be seen to perform? Because it is part of the way my father brought me up.

I have no compunction in going to a manager to get satisfaction, or director or chairman. You offer a service, I buy it, you deliver - simples.

Re: recent property search
 

I agree totally, but experience has taught me that many (most?) people or firms don't see it that way anymore - and so it's critical to always maintain the upper hand.

Don't allow yourself to be in the position where you are forced to be burdened with their shortcomings...

One of the best examples is Endesa or Telefonica.. Never give them direct debit from your account. This puts you in the position where you are forced to to fight them whenever they decide to overcharge or pull other tricks.

Needless to say, if you allow them the opportunity, they'll usually get away with it, because they've already taken possession of your best bargaining chip - the money. If you choose to fight, then it can take a very, very long time, and cost you a lot more...

So, just don't allow them to nick you in the first place... Simples :-)

Re: recent property search
 

I tried that and the grumpy owner said "contact the agent, like it says on the sign" needless to say we never did.

Re: recent property search
 

Some vendors have exclusive contracts and have to pay the agent come what may.

Re: recent property search
 

and expect me to pay him for "finding" the house
:thumbdown:

Re: recent property search
 

Maybe, but IMHO a stupid attitude in a buyers market and he lost a potential sale. A more reasonable response might have been "I am sorry but it is not convenient right now. If you give me your name and number, I shall get the agent to phone you".
When I have something to sell, I try to make it easy for the buyer.