Lessons learned from our viewing visit to Spain to buy a apartment

My partner and I had decided to purchase a apartment in Spain. Talking with some friends who were also thinking of buying a apartment it was suggested we join them at a apartment exhibition in Birmingham.

To cover more ground, we split from them promising to meet at midday and recommend suitable stands to visit. They were late back however and a phone call revealed that they had brought an ‘off-plan’ apartment on the Costa Del Sol, west of Malaga, and were just finishing the required paperwork.

Frankly we thought them to be mad to make such a speedy decision. However, they knew that area of Spain well. We were more cautious. However upon their recommendation we visited the same stall and hey presto we had arranged a viewing flight to Spain before you could say ‘tapas!’. I must say though that the thought of a cheap weekend in Spain was quite appealing though. A weekend trip cost £95 each.

A month later we landed at Malaga airport and were very impressed with a warm greeting from the sales person, Virgina. We were even more impressed that she knew our names. Our very own escort was very friendly and we were whisked away from the airport in a nice BMW company car.

After visiting lots of apartments and developments at both ends of our budget, we looked at a development we liked at Casares Del Sol approximately 25 minutes from Gibraltar. It seemed to have everything we were asking for. It promised luxury apartments with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a high tech kitchen, set amidst tropical gardens with 7 swimming pools. Being British we had the ‘stiff upper lip’ choosing to mull over the prospect during the course of the evening.

We did however visit some other developments with Virginia so as to be absolutely sure. There was no pressure placed upon us, the developments almost selling themselves. Virgina gave us plenty of help in seeing the various benefits of exactly where to buy on a development. Consider for example things as views, noise levels, access as we get older (lift, stairs etc), proximity to pool, rental opportunity

We signed the purchase documents for Caseras and parted with 4,000 Euros. The lovely Virginia treated us to a slap up meal at Casares. Casares is a pretty traditional white washed mountain village from which our development gets its name. At this point she felt more like a new friend than a sales representative. As you can imagine we had many questions regarding them all.

We returned to the UK excited with dreamy thoughts of enjoying many holidays in our home in the sun. Virgina kept in touch occasionally informing us to progress on the development and even sent the odd photographs of our plot.

My advice is to carefully choose which company you book your viewing trip with. Ask where you will stay for the visit, and of course what is the cost. Finally ask loads of questions, put together a list before you leave home and get each question answered. And once you have chosen your villa, sign up with a company that specialises in villa furnishings and get them to show you suitable villa furniture packs that are within your budget.

Read tips about choosing and buying vacation home on this blog.

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