FOUND A DREAM HOLIDAY HOME FOR SALE?
Beware the property equivalent of “batteries not included”.
Sitting by your pool in your new dream home; there’s nothing more satisfying.
The villa in Portugal you viewed was everything you hoped it might be; it had some lovely features and even some of the little touches you’ve secretly craved in your own home.
You picked a property from the best estate agent in Lisbon, you were diligent about making your offer, you waited for the keys and you looked forward to savouring that sensation of walking through the door knowing you owned everything on the other side.
But wait! Surely there’s been a mistake? This isn’t the holiday home in Portugal you fell in love with! The stunning, chandelier-style light fittings in the living room have gone and even the rustic oak shelves in that recessed alcove in the living room have vanished.
There’s a space on the wall in the bathroom where the mirrored medicine cabinet used to be and even the novelty cat at the end of the pull-cord light switch has been replaced with a boring, bell-shaped piece of plastic.
What happened? How could the previous owners have the bare-faced cheek to take everything you loved about the house with them when they left?
The thing is, all those quirky little details you fell in love with were not what you were buying. You bought bricks, mortar and (probably) the bit of land they stand on – not a home; and you may be surprised how many make the same mistake.
What are you buying?
Whether you’re moving to Portugal or buying a holiday home in Turkey, if you rewind to the viewing, it’s at that point that potential buyers ought to be checking exactly what is included in the deal.
It’s easy to make assumptions that even more substantial add-ons like a car port will still be there when you move in. Quite a few buyers presume things like roller-blinds will be as well – and that’s by no means guaranteed.
The same applies to light fittings, curtain rails, shelving, wall-mounted storage units, appliances and even some furniture which may appear to be built-in.
Whether you’re looking at holiday homes in Turkey or villas for sale in Portugal, our advice would be simply to ask the vendor or their agent – particularly if it’s a feature you really like. It may well be that the seller intended to take an item with them but, if they know you’re keen on it, they may be prepared to include it in the price, particularly if their property has been on the market for some time.
Let’s be honest …
Often, we don’t like to appear too avaricious; it may seem a little gauche to haggle over the fixtures, fittings or personal effects of a vendor.
But it’s better to be clear about exactly what you’re buying before making an offer – especially as you’re likely to be negotiating one of the largest financial transactions of your lives.
Make no assumptions as it would be a shame to invest time and money in all the legwork – including trips abroad – only to feel disappointment when you walk through the front door of your new home abroad for the first time.
If you’re buying property overseas and there’s anything else you think we might be able to help with, why not have a look through our earlier blogs, give us a call or drop us a line? We’d love to assist if we can.
In the meantime, why not have a browse on other pages of our website where you will find advice on how to obtain a Golden Visa in Portugal, a Golden Visa in Spain, how to qualify for citizenship in Turkey or to obtain a Golden Visa in Greece. Also, if you enjoyed this post and think others might find it useful, please feel free to pass it on. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance with your property search.