Free Initial consultation
We are happy to have an initial 30-45-minute conversation, which can be done via Skype, Whatsapp, or telephone. Due to increasing demand, and to the fact that people were spending hours on the phone or in person with our team members, we need to limit this initial contact to answering key questions and determining if there is a mutual fit.
The services below are all available for our Finder Services clients. We do not offer them individually on an ad-hoc basis, but as part of the service for clients who have committed to work with us exclusively.
Property Search / Finder Service (Buyer or Rental)
Once we have answered your initial questions, and you are comfortable that our method of working is a good fit for you, you would agree to work with us exclusively, benefiting from the independence which we offer. We would therefore represent you as a prospective buyer or renter, as your exclusive finder agent, and you would know that there was no conflict of interest, for example trying to keep the price high to maximise commission. We will discuss in detail the search criteria, both of the location and the ideal property.
This part of the Finder Service occupies most time and effort and our team will not rest until a quality set of options matching your criteria, is prepared. We will use your search criteria, including any adjustments (discussed with you) which may be required based on the reality of the market, as a basis for our search. Our team will use a combination of contacts and relationships with sellers/owners/landlords, other agencies, developers, banks (where appropriate) as well as our in-house search team who have at their disposal a range of resources and extensive previous experience in finding properties. The process will typically involve several iterations, as our team works with you to fine-tune the initial list, and compile a short-list which forms the basis for the Discovery Tour.
This does not mean that you cannot get involved in also hunting for properties, if you wish (we recognise that, at a distance, clients often get itchy fingers for conducting more internet searches!), but any suitable candidate properties must be sent to us, and handled and negotiated via us, to ensure that there is no overlap or confusion.
Discovery Tours (fixed fee)
Normally for clients looking in multiple areas, “Discovery Tours” are multi-city or multi-location visits lasting 1 full day. They include a combination of visits to different towns or areas, including a background on each, and suitable property visits to both properties for sale or rent, as appropriate. This is fixed-price €350 + VAT (some regional variation may exist due to distances involved), where applicable, covering costs (excluding lunch) for up to 2 visitors, transportation and time with a local team member, experienced in the local market. They also include all the preparatory work required to organise the visit, including coordination with multiple local owner and partners, based on specific client requirements. The Discovery Tour of the Finder Service is the visit to the short-list of identified properties. The cost of the Discovery Tour is fully reimbursable in case of a property purchase, and 50% refundable if a rental of at least 6 months is completed.
Feedback on our personalized Discovery Tour as a way of introducing the country and its regions to new residents or investors has been very positive, and without exception our visitors consider this the most cost-effective way of quickly getting an understanding of the areas and what each has to offer. It also helps to eliminate those options which are not a match, or not to your liking. Right after “place before property”, we ask our clients to focus on “eliminate, eliminate, eliminate”.
If a second or subsequent day needs to be added to the Discovery Tour, we will charge a nominal difference.
Visa application
Spain is part of the European Union and the Schengen visa space which allows visitors to move freely between several European countries without the need for passport control beyond an initial entry check. The freedom of movement of people is one of the important cornerstones of the EU and for visitors, a unique and much appreciated way to discover Europe’s Old-World charm in a simple and cost-effective way.
As with many countries around the world, Spain allows many foreign nationals to visit the country visa-free for a period of 90 days on a tourist visa, which extends to Schengen travel. This visa can be extended for a further period but limited to the country of the issuing visa.
For longer stays, all visitors to the country should apply for the correct visa, in most cases a residence visa. Again, in common with many other countries, the obtaining of a residence visa can be bureaucratic but the qualifying requirements are clearly stipulated. The process is of particular interest for retired, and non-EU citizens. The two most common residency visas we encounter, the NLV (non-lucrative or passive income) and digital nomad visas, can be applied for without the need for expensive consultants, immigration or relocation consultants, or lawyers, or with limited, focused support.
A key requirement for those requiring a visa linked to a permanent move, will be to have your accommodation formally and contractually agreed prior to, or soon after, applying. While we always recommend an exploratory visit to view and select your home in Spain (whether rented or purchased), sometimes this is not possible for any number of reasons including logistics, timing or cost. This is where a company such as ours will provide an invaluable service in identifying possible options, if necessary, allowing you to take a decision at a distance without the cost of having to make a trip (please note that this is not our recommended approach).
Administrative services (NIE, bank account, private health insurance, vehicle importation, empadronamiento,)
Any new resident wishing to insulate themselves from Spanish bureaucracy, should seriously consider asking for assistance with tasks related to moving to or buying/renting in the country. Not only is it cost-effective for most busy people, but it shelters you from the often-frustrating interaction with the inefficiency with which the wheels of government and service companies move.
Spanish civil servants, by and large, are not fluent in English, and so assistance with communication with government bodies is often useful. We will always attempt to refer Where multiple services are involved, it may be more efficient to refer you to one of our specialist partners.
Any question on our Services, please feel free to Contact Us.