Costa del Sol Property
The Property Doctor by Sean Woolley
At the last look on the agents’ shared database, there were 23,689 properties for sale on the Costa del Sol. That’s a lot of properties! It’s little wonder that property hunters remain convinced that it’s a buyer’s market, although the truth of the matter is that we currently have a market in which 80 per cent of buyers are chasing 20 per cent of the stock.
So what sets these properties apart as the hot ones… and how can you ensure that your property maximises its appeal?
The vast majority of overseas property searches begin online. The internet is the “shop window” for your property, whether you like it or not. So how does your property look online?
Make sure that the photographs of your property were taken on a sunny day with a wide-angled lens. Is the main photo really “selling” your property effectively? For someone to make an enquiry about your property online, they have to be impressed by the photography, so make sure that your home looks its absolute best when an agent takes the photographs.
If the photos of your home look attractive, and the property is priced correctly for the area, you will then start to receive viewings from potential buyers. Bear in mind that most buyers will be looking at several properties, probably of a similar type, style and price to yours, so you need to make your property stand out as the obvious choice for them.
You need to try to establish the show-home factor. First impressions count for everything: your property needs to be well-lit, tastefully furnished, free from clutter and smells, and ideally free from pets and crying toddlers!
The kitchen and bathrooms in particular need to be free from debris, beds need to be made, and the whole place should be spotlessly clean. Buyers have to imagine themselves relaxing in your living area, sleeping in your bedrooms, showering in your bathroom. If the sofa is stained, the bedding is dirty or there is mould in the shower tray, you’re going to have a problem.
Yes, it takes time, effort and often a little financial investment to stage a property to full effect… and it may still take many viewings to attract the right buyer. But I can assure you that in my 13 years’ experience of selling property on the Costa del Sol the vendors that follow this advice have much greater success when selling.
Sean Woolley, our resident property expert, can be contacted at Cloud Nine Spain: Centro Comercial Guadalmina 4, Local 88, San Pedro de Alcántara; Tel. (+34) 692 254 432; sean@cloudninespain.com; www.cloudninespain.com
WHAT’S HOT!
Elviria – still a Marbella property hotspot.
Los Flamingos Golf Resort – the best on the Coast?
El Madroñal – privacy and exclusivity in the hills.
Mortgage deals for 107% – just €12,000 capital required.
Los Arqueros Resort – two-bedroom from €149,000.
BEST DEALS!
• Stunning beachfront apartments and penthouses (above left) – priced from €320,000.
• This beautiful three-bedroom villa (above right) has a mature private garden and lovely pool, and is only a short stroll from the beach in Marbella – priced to sell at €475,000
