Sales Advice - Spanish Homeowners

Selecting an Agent

If you decide to use an agent to market your property in Spain it is important that you keep a few things in mind to ensure that your holiday home or Spanish property is marketed to its best effect.

Your agent should advise you on things like the selling price and any points which need attention so that you can improve the chances of a successful sale.

To sell your home effectively you should:

• Employ a good agent

  Good agents are part of a larger network who will market your property to the larger audience. You should keep in mind that large areas of Spain (big cities aside) are sparsely populated regions, but given that there are hundreds of thousands of foreigners with Spanish interests, the market for your holiday home is actually much larger than the local area. Agents using a network of colleagues will maximise the exposure your property gets by advertising it throughout the world wide market and then sharing the commission they receive between them. This results in more viewings than they could ever manage to get on their own. 

   

• Avoid giving your agent a 'bottom limit' price

  Giving your various agents a 'bottom acceptance' price is often a bad decision to make. By giving this figure you could very easily end up with your property being placed on the market at different prices. Differing prices cause confusion amongst potential buyers and breed mistrust which wrecks your marketing strategy before it's started. An agent who actively encourages you to give him your 'bottom price' should be avoided as he is intent on looking after his own interests rather than yours by negotiating between you and the buyer to squeeze out a higher fee.

   

• Agree commission at the start - in writing

  Most agents in Spain charge between 5% -7% commission of the agreed sale price of your property. You may come across some charging less than this but you will probably find these are the ones who don't market your property effectively or have any real form of sales strategy. Good agents will really earn their commission as they will market your home, as mentioned above, within their network, create brochures and arrange numerous viewings. It is normal in Spain for all viewings to be accompanied by the agent who, if he is a top negotiator, will sell your property for the highest price he can achieve. It is important that you agree your agent's commission at the start of the sales process to prevent any misunderstandings or disagreements later on.