Post by bheywood on Oct 19, 2005 9:57:37 GMT 1
Fellas, if I wish to travel somewhere, I buy a guidebook. I don't expect it to be 100% correct, but merely a jumping off point for my own research (if you want to know how recent the info in a book is, look at the imprint page inside the front cover).
Sometimes, to get a second opinion, I buy another guide book.
The tricky thing with Martin is that he's actually the only one who has put out a book of any sort on the subject of buying in Croatia - and self-published it at that, which is no easy task.
Personally, I think a great many people have found Martin's book and site a good place to start. No information can ever be wholey updated and correct, and while the website could do with a change of text here or there (which wouldn't cost anything), more fool the would-be purchaser who believes the first thing he is told:
"Agent's fees are 7%"
"You must pay a 50% deposit"
"You must pay €1000, you will get this back if you buy through us"
"We don't have all the signatures of the owners, but do not worry, this house is still for sale!"
Surely the more important point here is that if you are going to consider something as major as buying a property abroad you're going to do some research of your own, not just blindly follow one source of advice?
Like browse this forum, for instance, ask a few questions. Get some different points of view....which is exactly what this discussion has provoked.
For instance, if anyone was unsure about the alcohol limit for driving in Croatia, regardless of the info on Martin's site, all they had to do was ask here...!
Ben
Sometimes, to get a second opinion, I buy another guide book.
The tricky thing with Martin is that he's actually the only one who has put out a book of any sort on the subject of buying in Croatia - and self-published it at that, which is no easy task.
Personally, I think a great many people have found Martin's book and site a good place to start. No information can ever be wholey updated and correct, and while the website could do with a change of text here or there (which wouldn't cost anything), more fool the would-be purchaser who believes the first thing he is told:
"Agent's fees are 7%"
"You must pay a 50% deposit"
"You must pay €1000, you will get this back if you buy through us"
"We don't have all the signatures of the owners, but do not worry, this house is still for sale!"
Surely the more important point here is that if you are going to consider something as major as buying a property abroad you're going to do some research of your own, not just blindly follow one source of advice?
Like browse this forum, for instance, ask a few questions. Get some different points of view....which is exactly what this discussion has provoked.
For instance, if anyone was unsure about the alcohol limit for driving in Croatia, regardless of the info on Martin's site, all they had to do was ask here...!
Ben