Sales Advice - Spanish Homeowners

Essential Tips to Sell Your Property

To sell your property in Spain you will need to make an effort. Gone are the days when properties sold the day they were placed onto the market.

We have complied a number of tips below which, if followed, could help sell your property quicker and at the price you want.

• Put up a For Sale sign

  For Sale signs attract passing trade - make sure your property has one outside - with the price on it.

• Be flexible with viewings

  Any viewing is a potential sale so missing out because 'you're going to the beach' means you're not serious about selling so, if necessary, leave your keys with someone you trust.

• Open curtains and shutters

  Let people see your Spanish property bathed in light. Bright, airy rooms hold much more appeal than ones which are difficult to see.

• Make repairs and tidy up

  Well presented properties enhance the appeal many times over so it's worth patching up that flaking paintwork and pulling out the weeds if this is all it takes to bag a sale. Picky buyers will quickly move to the next property if they see any disapproving features.

• Make an inventory

  Selling your property with furniture? Make an inventory of everything that is included in the sale price; this eliminates confusion and potential negativity during the negotiation phase.

• Give power of attorney if necessary

  If, like most second home owners in Spain, you are not in town that much, you should give a power of attorney to your lawyer which will enable them to act and sign on your behalf and under your instruction. Doing this means your sale is not held up waiting for you to arrive in Spain in person.

• Be aware of tax and legal obligations

  You need to understand the implications of selling Spanish property and your obligations under the law. Learn what these are to avoid surprises later on.

• Set a realistic asking price

  Over ambitious asking prices WILL NOT sell your property. Your sales price is the key ingredient in your sales strategy and getting it wrong means your property will sit on the market for a long time. In the coastal regions remember; there are MANY properties for sale.

• Form a team with your agent

  Your sales team includes your agent, your lawyer, your tax adviser and YOU. Work together with these people, hold meetings, discuss strategy and ensure that each team member is pulling their weight. If not - replace the team member with another one.

• Consider negotiations

  Negotiations should end up in a win-win situation. Buyers want to feel they have got a 'bargain' - you want to achieve the maximum price for your property - so somewhere in-between is the final selling price. Don't dismiss offers out of hand, consider them carefully and assess if it is more financially viable to you to take a lower offer, rather than continuing to pay the mortgage for longer until you receive an offer you are happy with.

• Don't be pressured

  At the end of the day, it's your property / holiday home you are selling so it's you who should be happy with the final selling price. Don't let anyone, especially your agent, pressure you into making hasty decisions over an offer. Don't be pressured - but don't dither either. You could lose the sale if you hesitate TOO long.