Just how many nightmare stories have we heard about trusting
innocent individuals ripped off, lied to and what else have you
by a real estate agent?.
In light of these, I've gathered some of the common buyer complaints
about real estate agency practices in Spain. And let's hope this
will lessen the number of buyers who lose their life savings to
a real estate con artist in the neighborhood.
A Real Estate Agent In Spain Issues – From The Grapevine
In case you’re looking to buy a property in Andalucia,
here are some things you should know about real estate agents
in Spain and their common breed characteristics. Everything here
is based on research and personal interviews.
I) Websites
Many real estate agencies' websites
are not updated regularly. A property you think fits exactly
what you’re looking for may have been sold a year ago
or perhaps, not even for sale!
Most websites are not made to show you what properties are
available. They’re there to entice you, to lure you to
contact them. And once they’ve got your attention…
wham!
They’ll know exactly how to twist you round their litle
fingers.
So take most properties posted online with a grain of salt.
II) Insistent Refusal To Respond To Your Property
Spefications
Common scenario: You send an email/or call a real
estate agent in Spain giving him/her access to your list of
a dreamhouse must haves.. He says he’s got the exact property
you’re looking for.
Only problem is he doesn’t.
But he’s good enough to convince you that he does and
he will take you on a ride all over Andalucia showing you many
different houses until you’re so tired you can no longer
see the difference between a castle and a ruin.
And yet, you still won’t see the property you specified
you MUST have..And the real estate agent will goad you on promising
that the next one and the next one and next one will be just
perfect.
Advice: Get rid of these types
of estate agents as early as possible.. If they can't be honest
with you at the very start, who knows what other lies they are
capable of!
III) Spanish Vs. Foreign Real Estate Agents
An advice we hear a lot. Look for Spanish real estate agents
as they will most likely be more honest than your fellow countryman.
I’m not sure about the accuracy of this statement. As
Thomas
says (the dog magnate of this website, for those of you who
don't know), a breed is a breed is a breed, right? That’s
why Alsatians are police companions and the coolest dogs make
a website.
IV) Inadequacy With Helping You Settle Down
In Spain
Many real estate agents in Spain just don’t get it.
They sell you a property like you’ve been living here
all your life.
But a good percentage of their clients are not from Spain and
do not have a command of the language either.
And believe me, when you have these two inadequacies, you’ll
suddenly find yourself in a quagmire over something that’s
second nature to most of us, like going to the vet or opening
a bank account.
But many real estate agents do not understand this and their
services basically stop once you’ve handed them your hard-earned
cash.
V) Over Pricing
As I’ve mentioned earlier, there doesn’t seem to
be a governing-body that controls property rates in Spain (If
i’m mistaken on this one, do send me an email). So Spanish
real estate agents can pretty much add on whatever they want
to the owner’s asking price.
So the same property may cost 100,000 from one real estate
agency and 200,000 from another. No kidding!
VI) Hiding the “secrets” of the
property you’re buying
It’s always a good idea to get yourself a gestor/lawyer
who can help you find out if the property you’re buying
is not bound by any legal problems. (Preferably someone not
provided by the real estate agent in Spain)
Submit An Article About Dealing With A Real Estate Agent In
Spain
Do you know of any other trick that a real estate agent in Spain
practices when dealing with a property buyer? Have you had any
bad experience that you would like to share with others who are
looking for a property in Spain.
Tell us about it! Click
here to send us you story
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