Here’s some tips from MASA International on planning  property viewings in Spain.

There comes a point when thoughts of having your own place in in Spain can progress no further until you get on the plane and go see for yourself.

Hopefully by now, you are better informed than most about how to buy a property in Spain. You know the things you need to do to be safe and hopefully you’ve picked up a few tips along the way on how to save yourself a lot of money. Assuming you still want to buy a home in Spain, then you have now reached what I would call the ‘Critical Stage’ Allow me to explain.

I once read a quote by Woody Allen that said “eighty percent of success is showing up” and I think in the case of buying a property in Spain, we could comfortably up that to ninety five percent. For all the looking at websites, emails, brochures, and pictures of properties, nothing is going happen until you have set some time aside to visit Spain, to see some of these areas and properties for yourself. Only then will you know if having this place in the sun is really something that is going to be good for you.

The Pre Visit Check-list

There are a couple of different ways you can view areas and properties in Spain and we’ll come on to those later. Now, before booking a trip to Spain, it makes a lot of sense to check that you have prepared yourself to a good enough state that once you arrive in Spain, all you have to do is soak it all up, enjoy and get a real feeling for the locations you choose to view. By doing this you will not waste time on things you could quite have easily covered before arrival in Spain.

Must Have / Like To Have

This really is essential. Spain is a big place and there are a lot of properties there. Write a Must Have/Like To Have list and it will become the platform for your viewing arrangements. You will never be one hundred percent sure until you actually see the property, but you will have some features that you want present both in the property and in the location. The list will also serve as a practical reminder of what you really need while you are viewing.

Price range

If you know how much you can afford to spend on your Spanish property, then by default the range of properties is already being nicely tailored for you. If you are going to need finance to complete a purchase, get the figures before you book your flights and of course make sure the finance will be available to you should you see a property that ticks all your boxes. Start your viewings without this figure means you are shooting in the dark and potentially wasting a lot of time, energy and probably money too.

Right Time

Other than the small matter of actually finding a location and property that will meet all your requirements, is there anything else that could potentially stop you? Perhaps you need to sell a property before you can buy another, or maybe you are waiting for a lump sump or an investment to mature. The right time to view is when all these obstacles are out of the way. Sellers won’t take you seriously if you’re viewing before being ready to buy and Murphy’s Law dictates that you will almost certainly fall in love with a property and it will be sold by the time you come back with the money. Don’t be tempted to skip this step; being eager to visit Spain is good, but Spain will not run out of houses any time soon. Get prepared and you’ll have enjoyable, stress free buying experience.

Am I being realistic?

So, you have your list of the things you must have/like to have. You know how much you could potentially afford to spend on the property, and you are ready to swoop on a bargain Spanish property should you find one while you are visiting. One last thing worth checking. Are there actually properties that meet your requirements for the money you have, in the type of location you want? This is where your Agent or Property Consultant can help you. Check with them to see if what you are asking for is realistic. If there is nothing on the market to suit your budget,property type and location, you have three options if you still want to buy. 1. Consider other property types. 2. Consider other types of location 3. Revise your budget(if possible of course).

Options for Visiting Spain

There are really two types of property visit to Spain. A self planned trip, where you book the flights, accommodation, car hire and arrange property viewings with an agent(s) locally. The other is a subsidised Viewing Trip. Let’s look at both options.

Self Planned Trip

Making all your own arrangements for a trip to view properties in Spain does require some planning. If you don’t know the area well, you can spend more time looking at maps than looking a property. There’s accommodation, flights, car hire and property viewing appointments to be made.

Here’s 3 Tips for Self Planned Property Trips

1. Schedule your time wisely

Don’t be tempted to fill every day with property viewings with different agents. Always allow more time than you think for travelling to viewings and schedule in at least fifty percent of your time for seeing the area. Endless property viewings will lead to confusion, if not exhaustion.

2. Choose the right base for viewing

Try and book your accommodation in an area that is central to the region you wish to explore. The less time spent in the car means the more time you have for enjoying Spain and viewing properties. Try http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk if you are looking for a villa/apartment or http://www.tripadvisor.com if you prefer a hotel.

3. Choose a good agent(s) for your your property viewings

Obviously, I’m a little biased here, being an agent myself, but you really should choose your agent wisely. Only choose agents affiliated to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) in the UK and are ISO certified in Spain. This will ensure that your agent is committed to a quality of service that you would expect. Many agents have access to the same properties, so booking appointments with more than one agent does not guarantee you will see a different selection of homes.

MASA International are happy to meet you while you are in Spain looking for your property. In addition to arranging property viewings we can also help you with local transport and accommodation if required.

Low Cost Spanish Property Viewing Trip

A Viewing Trip can often be organised by your agent. They will arrange all the travel, accommodation, local transport and property viewings for you. In many cases this trip is subsidised by the agent and you will only have to make a contribution towards the total costs. Here’s a few of the most common questions I get asked with regard to Viewing Trips.

Why is the trip subsidised?

Look at it from the point of view that our “shop” is in Spain and you are not. In order for you to find a home and hopefully one with us, we really do need you to be here. To that end we are happy to contribute to the cost of your Viewing Trip, as you will get to spend a bit of time with us to see the area, the properties and equally important, you’ll get the chance to meet us and see if we’re the people you want to work with to find your home in Spain.

Why is the trip just 3 or 4 days?

This is really down to to advanced planning. You only want to view properties that meet your requirements and of course your budget too. Remember the list of Must Have/Want to Have requirements that we suggested you draw up? Well, we only need to show you locations and properties that match those requirements. We allow plenty of time for seeing the areas, not just the properties and because we’ve been selling property in Spain for over 28 years, we know our way around, so no getting lost or wasting time with upside down maps! Experience tells us that 3 or 4 days is just enough time to fit everything in, without ever feeling rushed.

What about sales pressure or hard sell?

I think it’s natural to think that because your not paying very much for the trip, there has to be a catch. The most obvious ‘catch’ would be a hard sell approach during your trip. Now, I can only speak for the way MASA International conduct their Viewing Trips and the company’s whole ethos is to provide a safe, pressure free way of buying a home in Spain. I am certain, that a company who’s been around for 28 years couldn’t get away with any other approach. If there is a ‘catch’ it’s that we only subsidise trips for buyers that have prepared themselves well, both financially and in their requirements. If we don’t have the right property for you or don’t think we have a possibility of doing business, we’ll be upfront about it, as we do not want to waste either your time or ours

How often do your Viewing Trips run?

We have daily departures, year round from across the UK and can usually fit in with your schedule.