How to find an Estate Agent on the Costa Blanca
For all foreigners looking to buy a home in Costa Blanca, the question is the same: how to find a good real estate agent? With long, warm summers, mild winters, cheap flights, and a plethora of good quality homes for sale, the 200km stretch making up the Costa Blanca has long been a favourite among foreign buyers.
Introduction to Costa Blanca, Spain’s “White Coast”
Spain’s ‘white coast’ offers some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, with dramatic cliffs jutting into the sea, mountain backdrops, magnificent countryside, a rich range of cultural attractions, pretty coves and huge palm-lined sandy beaches in the south and charming well-preserved old towns in the north. The Costa Blanca offers an enviable outdoor lifestyle with hundreds of ‘pueblos’ (villages) and picturesque resorts.
Alicante, Altea, Benidorm, Torrevieja, Ciudad Quesada, La Zenia, Los Alcazares, Gran Alacant
Alicante is the capital of the province of the same name and the natural centrepoint of the Costa Blanca. Recently regenerated, Alicante boasts a revamped marina with long, shady boulevards for dining al fresco. The airport is located just 20 minutes from the centre of the town, making the possibility of owning a holiday home even easier.
Fastighetsbyrån has been operating in Alicante since 2008, and also covers the popular areas of Torrevieja, Murcia, Los Alcazares, Benidorm, Altea and Gran Alacant.
Regardless of which town in Costa Blanca you‘ve decided to live in, how do you find a good estate agent to help you in your search?
Finding a good real estate agent in Costa Blanca
If you are thinking about buying or selling a property, finding a good Estate Agency on the Costa Blanca is imperative. Here are some key attributes we think that you should look out for in your search:
1. Communication
When looking for an Estate Agency on the Costa Blanca, it is important to know whether the agents can speak your native language. At Fastighetsbyrån, we speak many different European languages and can help both buyers and sellers through every step of the sale. Communication throughout the buying or selling process is also key. As a seller or a buyer, you will want to be aware of each step of the process, so using an estate agent that can communicate well is vital. Poor communication from agents can be one of the most frustrating aspects for buyers and sellers. As the real estate market is time-sensitive, you will want to use an agent who constantly keeps you in the loop about your situation.
2. Local knowledge
Real estate agents not only sell property but they are also selling a lifestyle. In order to do this effectively, they need a good understanding and knowledge of the Costa Blanca. For example if you are looking for an estate agent in Torrevieja, ask the agent on the best areas to live, local and international schools, health centres, leisure and sports facilities, beaches and day trips etc. In-depth knowledge of the local property market on the Costa Blanca and Murcia is also extremely important. You will need to ask pertinent questions such as recent fluctuations in property prices in Alicante, Murcia, Altea and across the Costa Blanca as a whole, investment potential in Benidorm, the best time of year to sell or buy in Gran Alacant, how often do homes listed achieve asking price on the Costa Blanca, which nationalities are buying where and rental yields in Alicante, for example.
Read our dedicated article about foreign buyers in Alicante and in Costa Blanca
3. Testimonials
The best recommendations for any service is by word of mouth and real estate is no exception. If a Costa Blanca estate agent has gained a good reputation, then you will be able to see that by reading testimonials on the agency’s website or better, social media pages as they are more likely to be impartial. If you want a personal recommendation for an estate agency in Murcia, Alicante, Benidorm or Torrevieja, then ask the agency if you can speak to a buyer or seller on the Costa Blanca who has used their service before. A decent Costa Blanca real estate agency should be able to give you references from their last 10 clients. It is also worth reading up on what property experts say about the agency and whether it has won any industry awards.
4. Marketing
Any reputable estate agent on the Costa Blanca will know how to market a property well. From looking at an agency’s website you will instantly know if they are promoting homes in the area effectively. The best property websites in Alicante and Murcia offer high quality photos, well written and updated listings and content (in different languages), the sites are easy and quick to navigate and will offer interactive features such as online chats. Information on the listings should not only include a description of the property itself but also on features such as distance from airports, train stations and beaches, local schools information, area guides including information on restaurants and sports facilities. Find out what portals they use for marketing Costa Blanca properties and if they use advertising and PR as an extra marketing strategy.
5. Flexible working hours
For many buyers, it may only possible to see properties during non-working hours. An estate agency which can offer you the possibility of seeing a home in the evenings or on a Saturday shows a flexibility as well as an understanding of their client’s situation. Any good Costa Blanca agent will have relentless enthusiasm to get a property sold, so the ability to work around sellers’ and buyers’ timeframes will help that become a reality. Sellers will also want to know whether an agent can show a potential buyer their home when they are not there.
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