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Countries Testimonials
"The Overseas Buying Guide is an excellent document - clear, concise, easy to read, and very useful. I particularly liked the property detail sheets - very useful when snagging etc."
Many thanks.
"Dear Kim, Thanks to your top tips we asked our developer if he had an insurance bond and to our surprise he did not...We quickly pulled out of the deal and found a developer that would be able to return our money if they went bust. We absolutely loved the property analysis and financial sheets - they truly helped us to decide on our future property. "
Thanks for the guide! Sally &Tom R
Properties - April 2011
Final checks before buying a property
12th April 2011 - 05:47
I feel that some points are worth expanding on: I have this mental picture of someone taking YOU for a ride and me, too late, wishing that I had warned you, or elaborated
on something...
Here are a few thoughts that flitted through my mind about the final checks that you should be making before you sign your contract and commit yourself irrevocably.
Don't lose sight of the fact that you purchase the property accepting the condition that it is in on completion or on the date you sign...
How to recognise a good estate agent
12th April 2011 - 05:44
I have lost count of the number of estate agents I have spoken to and here’s the really strange thing. You would think that, in these economically challenging times, service and efficiency would be their mantra wouldn’t you? But not so with many that I have spoken to or dealt with.
I still believe that the best way to go about looking for a property is with a good, reliable and local property agent – but how do you tell the good from the bad?
My son is toying with the...
Let the haggling begin
12th April 2011 - 05:40
When does a cheeky offer become a silly one, or – even worse – an insulting one? That’s the question that needs to be the first you ask yourself if you decide that you are going to offer less than the asking price. The last thing you need to do is to rush in with guns blazing and offend anyone. Neither, however, do you want to pay any more than you have to…
Each country has a different take on the thorny issue of exactly how much lower you should offer than the...
Renting your holiday home out for some extra cash?
12th April 2011 - 05:39
You may have bought a property abroad to stay yourself during holidays. You may however from time to time consider renting it out. Here are a few vital tips to remember:
1. Think about employing someone to make sure the gardens and the pool are kept looking immaculate. There is nothing more off-putting than a dirty pool and a messy garden. You will need to factor in an extra cost for someone to keep on top of maintenance if you are not there to do it yourself.
2. It is essential that...
Researching and Choosing a Good Developer
12th April 2011 - 05:37
When buying a property abroad it’s possible to buy from a developer that provides bad service, is unauthorised to build property and leaves town with all your money. It’s also possible to find a good developer that builds a property on time, to specification and within the budget requested. And then there are all the other developers that fall somewhere in between!
There are three stages to choosing a good developer. However, many buyers are either unaware of, or simply skip,...
Viewing trips
12th April 2011 - 05:34
I am often asked about Inspection trips, so here are my thought on this sometimes contentious matter!
Once you know your objective, have set a budget, decided upon the area that you’re interested in and understand the process, you should then make arrangements to visit. The longer you can stay the better. There are all sorts of packages that property companies offer; some even help to pay your flights and accommodation – yes, the ‘inspection trip’.
Inspection trips...
Buying an Urban vs Rural Overseas Property – what’s best for you?
12th April 2011 - 05:32
There’s been quite a few times in my life where I was positively certain that I wanted a particular item or a situation to happen yet when it did, I realised it wasn’t what I wanted after all. It comes down to the wise saying, ‘be careful for what you wish for as you just might get it!’ After years of conversing with overseas property buyers one major factor that causes ‘buyers remorse’ comes from city or town folk that buy a 2nd home or emigrate to the...