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Post by sarahmackenzie on Mar 15, 2004 10:36:05 GMT 1
My partner and 1 are looking to buy a property in the istria/Kvarner region of croatia and would like to find details of reputable agents to help us with our purchase. I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has had personal dealings with agents and their comments on how the purchase went.
many thanks
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robert
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by robert on Mar 17, 2004 8:13:14 GMT 1
Sarah,
I have had dealings with many agents in that region as a private buyer and I wasn’t impressed, to say the least. (This is one of the reasons why I started my company.) I am not going to write anything about particular agents here, as I do not want to appear to be advertising my services. In fact, I encourage people to try to deal with local agents when searching for property. Indeed, some people have had very pleasant experiences and managed to buy their ideal place under the sun easily and stress-free.
Few pearls of wisdom, though:
- Most properties are listed with many agents and price for the same property can differ from agent to agent. The sellers often cause this problem, but it could also be that the agent is simply hiking up the price out of his own accord. - It is common for agencies to charge up to £30.00 (and it could be even more this year) for property viewings. Sometimes this can not be avoided but show them you are not simply a tourist looking for entertainment and try to negotiate paying only a single fee for all the viewings. If the agent appears to be interested more in the viewing fee than in finding you a suitable property they are probably best avoided. If they appear to have really suitable property you will have no options but to pay to ‘see their cards’. - Properties advertised in agents’ windows and elsewhere can be sold long time ago or not even on the agent’s books. - Be prepared to be taken around many properties you have no interest in. There is a shortage of good properties in the region and agents will show you everything within your budget (and beyond) that they have on their books. - Gazumping is common but sometimes ‘higher bidder’ exists only in the mind of the seller/agent. - Just leaving your details with an agent and hoping that they will bombard you with suitable properties will not work. - When some property is not sold for a longer period of time the price is more likely to go UP than down. - Local people often sell not because they have to sell or want to move up the property ladder, but simply because the price they are getting for their run-down and long forgotten cottages is mouth-watering high. If they think (meaning if they heard down the hairdressers) that they might get even more tomorrow or next year, the deal could become difficult to complete. - Situation with the purpose built apartments is different and price is fixed to the square meter. Many developers can afford to wait to sell but they prefer to move on. Building tourist apartments has become one of the most profitable activities in Croatia and has caused land prices to explode. In the prime locations, the land has become affordable only to the developers.
Most of these conditions are caused by unprecedented (for Croatian terms) demand for seaside properties and this is most visible in Istria. I do not blame the locals since it is the foreigners who are intent on buying every square inch of Croatia’s Adriatic coast and are willing to pay any price for it. The situation will change once the prices reach the market ceiling and foreigners stop paying ridiculous prices thinking they will double next year and again year after that, and again and again. The agents are also bound to become more professional when the market cools down and when the requirements of the profession become more than just possessing a mobile phone.
Hope I was of some help,
Robert
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Post by Re Robert on Mar 18, 2004 17:48:09 GMT 1
Can you send me contact details of your property company. Regards. Mark Unwin
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robert
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by robert on Mar 18, 2004 18:10:06 GMT 1
Mark,
You may click on my (highlighted) name - that will lead you to my e-mail. You can do this with any registered member. Alternatively, leave your e-mail here and I will get in touch.
Kind regards,
Robert
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