We own a small apartment near Marbella and are ready to sell. We want to make as much cash as possible so how easy is it to conduct a sale in Spain without using estate agents?
Any help is really appreciated.
Matt

Hi Matt,

Unless you are very experienced in selling property, or know who you are selling to very well, i wouldn't even consider not using an estate agent. Shop around to see what commission the estate agents are asking - persistent bartering can pay off when it comes to negotiating an estate agents fee in Spain.
Once your property is on the market you need to really push your property if you are looking for a quick sale. Regularly call the estate agents so that you are at the forefront of their minds.
Best of luck and keep us posted!

The UKTV Style Team.

Hi,

We've been trying to sell a gorgeous fully furnished property in Spain for more than 12 months with no joy at all. It's been on with various local agents as well as via our spanish lawyers & 2 specialist UK sites. We are at our wits end as we are having to pay for it to be looked after & maintained all this time.

We also have an off-plan we are trying to sell in the same way.

Can you offer any advice at all please - a desperate plea

Carole

Hi Matt,

Check out www.thepropertyguide.com We sold both of our properties here in Spain quickly, via this website.
It´s a website purely for private sellers so we didn´t have to pay any agents fees.

Jane

You do not need to be experienced to sell your property in spain. If you negotiate the price with your buyer and make sure he has the funds to transfer, book the local notary and hire a local lawyer, who speaks both languages, if you do not speak Spanish as he will translate. Ask the buyer for a 10% non-refundable deposit and ask your lawyer to draw a simple pre purchase contract between the two of you. Set your date for the notary and you can transfer the deed and exchange the money in front of the notary. It is the buyer who needs the lawyer more than the seller in Spain, because they could inherit your debts (ie) if there is a mortgage to pay off on the property, you will need to inform the bank as they will be at the notary meeting with you.
Just shows you the so called experts on this website have no idea and couldn't possibly unless they have lived and worked in the industry out there. Doing it the way above will save you at least 6%-10% as the agents in Spain are notorious high in commissions.

we just sold a small piece of land through a semi free estate agent. Open Sky Property. They take care of showing the property, do not ask exclusive and charge 3% on selling. You can list it quickly and free at www.openskyproperty.com Andrew is the one that sold our piece, he is an austrailian that has 10 years in Spain. He is well connected and moves property via investors and outside buyers. But I guess it would depend on what you have. People are scared of real estate right now because of projected falling prices. We are looking to purchase a small apartment in Valencia right now, but everyone recomends to wait a couple of months.

I am looking to buy a smallholding in the South East of Spain, fairly close to the sea, it's for self sufficiency in retirement. Any suggestions?. colmp

I think it would be a big mistake to attempt to sell your property without an estate agent - there are just so many technicalities you can't fully know about.