Check list of what you should know before undertaking an inspection tour:

• Have a budget set of how much you are wanting/able to spend.
  
  
• Have an idea of the location you wish your property to be in.
  
  
• Have an idea of the type of property you want to be looking at for example do you want an apartment or a villa, a new property or a resale property, do you want your property to be modern or rustic, how many bedroom an bathrooms you want/need, do you want a swimming pool and so on an so forth.
  
  
• You should have an idea of what the use of the property is going to be. Do you want the Spanish property for a second home or for retiring, are you planning on renting your property out or maybe even if you want to set up your business there?
  
  
• It would be useful to know when you want the property by (timescale) because some properties you may look at may not yet be completed and therefore you may have to wait 6months before you can move in.
  
  
• It would be useful for the agency to know your interests because when they are looking for properties for you they can try an match the properties with a surrounding area that suits your taste. For example you if you want your property for enjoying peace and quiet then you will not want a property in the centre of a busy city with a large night life.

All of these factors can help you undertake an inspection tour that is most beneficial to you.

How to choose an agency for your inspection tour:

Try not to go with a company that is directly involved with the developers of the properties that you are going to view. This may mean that they will try to rush you into making a decision on your purchase because the agency may be making a commission on the sale. Find a real estate agent that is qualified because it is not necessary to be qualified to be in real estate anymore so it is probably best to go with ones that have API (Agente de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria) or GIP (Gestor Intermediario de Promociones y Edificaciones) because these associations require examinations from their members. There are many companies that offer you inspection tours and they all look the same but be sure that you look at he small print of the requirements of the Inspection Tour. Some companies give very cheap inspection tours but then when it comes down to it they are expecting a sale on your very first trip to Spain (it is possible to find your perfect house on your first trip however it shouldn't essential)) or they may make you pay a high commission when you find the property that you are looking for. However this is not always the case and you should look for companies that are not going to pressure you into buying straight away after all this is a big commitment. When looking at different companies you should think about what it is you really want from the tour, choose a company that takes an interest in you . You want to be in contact with them at least two or three times before you are expected to fly out there because it is important that they really know the type of property you are looking for. Most companies will send you brochure will information about the inspection tours and some other companies have people who went on inspection tours and so you can talk to them about their experiences. Another good thing for you to do is to go along to the companies fair that they hold (if they hold one), this can be a good insight as to the type of company it is whether it looks professional and you can ask them any questions that you like.

Go back to "Inspection tours"