Choosing an estate agent

Choosing an Estate Agent on the Costa de la Luz is a critical decision for you to make. Here are some questions you might like to ask:

1. Are you a limited company registered with the Town Hall, the Tax Authorities, etc? (There are a lot of middle men with no legal status in Spain)
2. Do you have offices we can visit to meet the people in the company? (Many agents operate just on the internet or out of a spare bedroom from home – a clue: any Spanish telephone number beginning with 6 is a mobile!)
3. Do you have both British and Spanish staff? (Communication and knowing the needs of British buyers are obviously of vital importance but so is local knowledge and the ability of the agent to negotiate successfully with developers, local officials, etc.)
4. Are all your prices quoted in Euros? (Beware of prices in £££’s – you will have to pay in Euros and you could well lose out on the exchange rate.)
5. Do you offer a full, professional service – including an after sales service to help me open bank accounts, get my NIE number, sort out my electricity, etc?
6. Do you carry insurance that will cover me if I have an accident while travelling in your vehicle to see a property? Ordinary motor insurance does not cover this as it is considered as professional use.
7. Can you assure me that I do not have to pay any commission on top of the agreed price? (Many agents in this area charge the buyer 2% or 3% on top of the purchase price.)

And just in case you’re wondering, in our case the answer to every question would be "Yes!"