Buying or selling property

Devonlass New member

Member since 06 January 2025

DevonlassNew member03 March 2025 06:21:19

I sold my house in July 2024 through the Inland Villas agency in Sax, Alicante, Mr David Fraser, proprietor.

This is what I have learnt:

Bring your own translator, use your phone. There are apps available that translate conversation and text. In house translators can not be relied upon.

Do not conduct any communication via WhatsApp. The sender can access your account and delete what they wish. Use email, you will have a copies that can't be meddled with.

The signing of the initial sale document is likely to be in the estate agent's office. Make sure you get a copy of the document. If there doesn't seem to be one, use your phone to translate and take a photograph. Better still - don't continue with the transaction.

Ideally, you want to meet the prospective purchaser/vendor. You need to ensure that the "sale" price and "purchase" price are the same.

Insist that you get the agreed deposit at the time of signing the initial sale document and use a bank transfer to send or receive the money, don't use cash.

Most properties are listed with multiple agencies, so if you don't feel comfortable with an agent, go to someone else. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't right.

Perpetual_traveler Contributor

Member since 24 May 2022

Perpetual_travelerContributor03 March 2025 08:31:24

101

Somehow, I get the feeling that this is a "hard lessons learned" post? If so, sorry to hear it.

Devonlass New member

Member since 06 January 2025

DevonlassNew member04 March 2025 06:34:42

You are absolutely right. It happens far more often than anyone realises. People new to the country will have been online and contacted an English speaking/British estate agent. They are reassured by the familiarity of dealing with someone they understand. Estate agents also set their clients up with NIE numbers, bank accounts and other documentation. So, you are very much in their hands.

Another situation where people are taken advantage of is when they are leaving the country particularly if there is illness or when a partner dies. The remaining partner is very vulnerable. Also the estate agent knows that their client is leaving the country or moving away and there is unlikely to be any comeback.