So you’ve decided you want to sell your house, of course you want to get the best price possible for your lovely home, so the thought of saving thousands of pounds is very tempting. The average Estate agent fee in Spain is 5%, So on a €300,000 sale that is €15,000!! However, selling your home yourself, also known as ‘for sale by owner’ (FSBO), can be stressful and exhausting, especially if you don’t speak the language of the buyers or their solicitor.

While you may feel that if you don’t use an agent you will save money not paying their fee, the value and ease they bring to selling your house is priceless. Potential buyers will also know you are not using an agent and will therefore make a much lower offer than they would through an agent.

The legal process of selling properties can be complex because the laws and rules around selling a villa, townhouse, apartment or country residence are all very different. You will need to know and understand the legal differences that apply to your specific property.

How will you find a buyer?

If you do decide to sell your house yourself, how will you find a buyer?

Most real estate agents are connected to the Multi-listing network in Spain. These agencies share clients, properties and commissions. One agency may have a buyer but not the right property, whilst the other agency will have the property but not the buyer. They will therefore collaborate and make a sale, splitting the commission. This does not affect the buyer or seller negatively in any way as it’s a private agreement between both agencies. It will help you find a buyer faster. They can also provide a professional and eye-catching ‘for sale’ sign outside your house, something you will have to arrange yourself through a private sale.

How to avoid time wasters?

A good Real estate agent can find the right buyer for you and will have a list of potential buyers eager to look at your property. They have the skill to vet these potential buyers, finding out if they are serious or dreamers.

It’s a lot of work and a major effort every time you have to put your life on hold, make your house look perfect, and show your home. You want to limit wasting your time and energy and only show your house when it is more likely to result in a sale. You will also need to set enough time aside for viewings, which might entail taking time off work, sorting someone to take the children out of the house while the viewings take place and allowing enough time in the event they are running late or take a long time to look around your home.

Most buyers do not like the owners to be present during a viewing, it can make them feel uncomfortable and they may rush the viewing, not taking the time to appreciate all your home has to offer.

Not forgetting you will need to be available to answer the phone to any potential buyers at all times of the day. If you miss a call, or take too long to respond, you could potentially miss a sale! You also might not speak the same language which can understandably be very difficult when you are trying to explain the selling points of your property or negotiate a sale. Using a bilingual Estate Agent will be paramount.

Estate agents can find out what potential buyers' actual budgets are, whether they are cash buyers or if they need a mortgage, how long they have been looking for and if they need to be close to schools or transport links. This information is invaluable when negotiating a sale price. Buyers are not likely to give this information directly to the owner thereby making negotiations more difficult.

How do you value your home?

Real estate agents have the experience to know whether your home is over- or under-priced. Most real estate agents can price a house the minute they walk through the door, they bring in-depth knowledge that comes from years of watching waves of transactions in your area.

They will be able to use their local knowledge of recent sales and demand for similar properties to price your property right and get you the best offer.

How will you market and advertise your property?

The agency will have the experience and the tools to market the property widely and can give advice on setting it up for sale. They will also be able to measure your rooms, make floor plans, take professional photographs and even create 3D tours for you.

3D tours have proven to be an essential tool during the COVID pandemic.

An agency will be able to list your property on specialist websites such as Idealista, Kyero, Rightmove, Primelocation and Zoopla as well as their own website linked to the multi listing network. Here at Mediterranean Homes we advertise on all these websites and networks, also our own, easy to use, website, we also advertise on social media, Facebook and Instagram where we have a large and dedicated following. You only need to select one agent and your property will be displayed on every member agency of the multi listing network. To give you a rough idea, Málaga has over 700 agencies on this network.

How to secure a sale?

A Real estate agent can help you with the whole process and deal with all parts of the sale chain as well as the negotiating process, which can be a tricky and sometimes uncomfortable business. Being professional and not emotionally attached will ensure they get the best price possible for you. They will tackle all the paperwork, document every conversation, know the law, have their finger on the pulse and will push your purchase through and help seal the deal.

They will also have a list of contacts to help move the sale through quickly, such as experienced solicitors, builders, architects etc.

At the time of writing, house prices are on the rise and many governments are pumping money in to boost mortgage lending, making it more of a seller's property market than it has been for a long time.

The Association of International Property Professionals.

Mediterranean Homes is a member of The Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP). First established in London in 2006, AIPP is the trade body for professionals around the world dealing with buyers of a foreign property. If your agent is a member of AIPP, this includes enrolment into an approved alternative dispute resolution provider. If something goes wrong, your agent can be held accountable. This in turn ensures they do their due diligence and offer you the best quality service. 

Professional companies with accreditation should show the AIPP logo on their website to prove their credentials. It’s not worth your while risking your luck with cowboy estate agents.

Why it’s better to use a Real Estate Agent

• They will value your property correctly ensuring a quicker sale
• They have the best marketing tools to show your property at its best
• They have a list of potential buyers looking in your area, ready and eager to buy
• They will be a member of the multi-listing network
• They will advertise on all the correct platforms to reach as many potential buyers as possible
• They will vet any potential buyers and rule out time wasters
• They will only show your house to serious buyers that can afford your property
• They are not emotionally attached which will get you the best price possible
• They will do all the negotiating for you
• They will sell your house quicker and get you the best possible price
• They bring years, or on our case decades, of experience selling properties
• They will have all the professional contacts needed to finalise the sale
• Professional companies will be a member of the AIPP
• They will take the stress away from you

Mediterranean Homes is the Inland Property Specialists with over 30 years of combined experience, covering Alhaurin El Grande, Alozaina, Coín, Guaro, Mijas, Monda and Tolox and anywhere else in and around the Guadalhorce Valley.

If you have a house to sell, we can guarantee to sell it for you at the right price. Simply fill in our contact form or call us on (+34) 951 242 157 to make sure you get the best price for your property.