Our experience !
Buying a second stay abroad is not a simple job that will bring you to a successful conclusion in an instant. Most of the time you have already surfed a dothead on the internet, you have already wandered off a number of stock exchanges where you are either accused by intrusive sellers, or radically ignored by other buyers who feel their elbows that you are not an interesting "victim".
If you then take the plane - a bit of good luck - to some sunny destination, hoping that expert guidance by a few real estate agents will deliver you your dream house in no time, you may be faced with less pleasant surprises.
Some brokers have only just met you or they are asking when you could sign, others are putting pressure on you to get rid of a contract, without worrying much about your budget, your preference of location, the sunny side or shadow side, for a large or small project ... If anything is drawn, the rest is incidental or simply unimportant (for them). Cowboys can be found everywhere, including in the (foreign) real estate sector.
But luckily we cannot let everyone go the same way. After a number of less pleasant experiences, we came in contact with Ritamar Properties through a private exhibition in Kortrijk. What a relief! What you see is what you get: first a clear explanation of the pros and cons of a purchase abroad (no hidden agenda), then a pleasant personal chat in which your interests and preferences are surveyed and finally you pick up, again full good cheer, the plane hoping to find that dream destination now.
After we were first sent a series of potential apartments by e-mail, Rita then toured with us for two days and she showed us all the possible properties that she thought might be of interest, without any pressure, with a clear explanation of what according to her was good and less good at a certain project.
When we finally made our choice with her, she started actively negotiating the price with the construction promoter, she brought us in contact with a law firm that could guide us further, but she also remained available for the most varied information afterwards : where can we go to furnish our apartment, how do we arrange gas, water and electricity, is there a handyman who can do some work for us, where can we buy bicycles, where are there nice restaurants, what is there to see in the (spacious) environment, in short, all the practical information that a newly-baked buyer is struggling with abroad.
The sale was already closed for a long time, but the "after-sales service" is also extremely important for Rita and not a hollow concept. Now, one year later, we can still turn to her with a practical problem.
We really appreciate this very personal approach, as if WE were her most important customer for whom she always makes time, always with a smile, always with a suitable solution at hand. Do bear in mind that there is a good chance that she will send you a reply in the middle of the night, because her Duracell batteries are apparently never empty ;-)
Oh yes, this is NOT a promo message. This is a report of our personal experience of buying a flat in Spain. If you are planning to follow in our footsteps, then I can only warmly recommend Ritamar Properties.
