Estate agents

Do you have a query on how to get things done in Andalucia, where to find things, who to call? Find out by posting and hear about others experiences.
HugoW
Tourist
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2017 2:39 pm
Location: Yorkshire

Estate agents

Postby HugoW » Thu Apr 06, 2017 7:01 pm

Hello
I have posted this in Moving to Andalucia too - please delete if you think it should just be in this one.


Does anyone have any experience of using more than one estate agent to sell your Spanish property? Any hints and tips gratefully received.
Many thanks.

Miro
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 3584
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:20 pm
Location: Merseyside, formally Torremolinos

Re: Estate agents

Postby Miro » Thu Apr 06, 2017 7:13 pm

The only thing I would say is, YOU decide what price the property is to be marketed at, and make sure ALL agents advertise it at the same price - regardless of whether they charge different rates of commission (and don't agree to put it with any that want more than 5%). There's nothing worse than buyers seeing your property at different prices. If you advertise it privately as well, do so at the same price the agents advertise it at (and hope you get a private buyer, saving yourself the commission!) Also, be aware of agents trying to get you to sign exclusivity agreements - if another agent sells it, they'll still want paying.

And good luck!
Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often

"Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative," Mordecai Siegal 1935-2010.

Gasman
Resident
Posts: 827
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:53 am
Location: Huelva province

Re: Estate agents

Postby Gasman » Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:49 am

I believe legally they are not allowed to have an exclusivity clause - our dealings with estate agents have shown that they are quite keen to point out in the contract that there is NO exclusivity - you are free to have as many agents on the go as you want and you can sell privately also. You are asked to let them know of course if you do have a sale - which is fair enough. One of our agents dropped the price, we found out via another agent we were also using, who happened to notice its change on the other agents web advert !!!! So do keep tabs on what they are saying about your property and keep them in line ... Estate agents can be as good or bad as spanish lawyers - keep yourself informed and spread your net widely, using different types of agents - local, those with foreign web-based clientele, specialised in your sort of property. Ask your prospective agents WHERE they advertise and check up to see if that is where you want your property to be. For your own peace of mind you may want to use agents that have good english, so you are not confused with that, as well as the various processes involved.
Good luck as the market seems very slow at present!!

Miro
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 3584
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:20 pm
Location: Merseyside, formally Torremolinos

Re: Estate agents

Postby Miro » Fri Apr 07, 2017 10:01 am

Gasman wrote:Good luck as the market seems very slow at present!!
Agree with that! Our place was on the market with an increasing array of useless agents for three years. Eventually, we got a private (Spanish) buyer simply by putting a Se Vende sign in the window, which brought far more enquiries (mostly just that though) than any ads we placed on idealista or the like, and all the agents put together did. If you're not here, or don't speak Spanish though, this won't work for you of course.
Around here, at least, properties up to €100k seem to sell, but over that and it's still difficult, and to be honest, the agents don't really seem to make any effort at all. I'm not sure how they survive. Many have disappeared over the years, but recently a few new ones have cropped up, which is surprising, but maybe a sign that things are at last starting to improve. Time will tell.
Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often

"Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative," Mordecai Siegal 1935-2010.

User avatar
peteroldracer
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 7774
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:56 pm
Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia

Re: Estate agents

Postby peteroldracer » Fri Apr 07, 2017 1:26 pm

If an experienced comeptent and bi-lingual estate agent was to come over to Spain and set up an agency charging the UK rate of 1.5 to 2% commission they would wipe the floor with all the greedy ones here.
Even a "Ladrillos Morados" operation with a flat fee would do well - and a damn sight easier way to earn a living than running a bar!
I used to cough to disguise a [email protected] I f@rt to disguise a cough.

HugoW
Tourist
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2017 2:39 pm
Location: Yorkshire

Re: Estate agents

Postby HugoW » Fri Apr 07, 2017 6:42 pm

I am very grateful for all this advice. We are in the Lecrin valley area if anyone wants to recommend agents.


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests