Drawing up a clear Spanish property brief
Defining property characteristics, location and use
by Mark Stücklin
Having thought hard about your requirements, done some research into the market, and worked out your budget range, you can now draw up a written brief that describes the characteristics of the property you want to buy. Obviously your brief has to be realistic in terms of your financial resources. It’s no good preparing a brief that describes a property you can’t afford to buy or maintain.
Drawing up a written brief has several advantages. The act of writing down a brief helps you clarify your thoughts and articulate your priorities. It also provides you with a useful document on which to base your search and communicate your requirements to estate agents and other professionals.
Many people complain of wasting time with agents who show them clearly inappropriate properties. Sometimes this is done intentionally by estate agents who use unattractive properties to make the properties they want to sell look more appealing (this is known in the trade as showing the client ‘put offs’). More common, though, are estate agents who simply ignore the client’s requirements and focus instead on what they want to sell.
A written brief makes this more difficult for agents to do. And of course, even good agents will find it a challenge to help you without a clear idea of what it is you are looking for. A written brief helps them to understand your requirements, assess how realistic they are and provide you with useful feedback from the start.
Despite the advantages of preparing a written brief, it seems that only a minority of people actually do so. Though it helps enormously to have a written brief before you start contacting estate agents one has to assume that this brief will not be set in stone. Searching for property in Mallorca is a learning process and you will probably find it necessary to update your brief in the light of experience. Your brief will evolve to adapt to the reality of the market and the process of updating your brief helps you to manage your search.
The following questions cover most issues you will need to describe in a written brief: Property Characteristics, Location and Use.
When giving a written brief to estate agents it helps to provide pictures of properties that appeal to you. Magazines are a good source of inspiration and ideas when looking for example pictures. Cut out pictures of the properties that serve as a guide to what you have in mind and attach them to your brief.
Property characteristics
Budget range
Your budget for the property alone, not including conveyancing costs and taxes.
Property type
Apartment, Semi-detached, Townhouse, Villa, Estate.
Architectural style preferences
Modern, rustic, classical, traditional Spanish
Status & Condition
Off-plan, Under construction, Just built, the extent of reforms that you will consider
Bedrooms
Number & size
Bathrooms
Number & size
Size of property
Built area and plot in m2
Interiors, Kitchens, bathrooms
Open plan, modern, cosy, rustic, basic, elegant, preferred colours, no preference
Garden & Pool
Size, communal/private, importance
Parking
Garage (number of cars), carport, on street
Views
Rural, Golf, Sea, Mountains, Town
Other issues
Broadband connection, security on doors and windows, security and fire alarms
Location
Ideal surroundings
City, town, village, rural, quiet residential, urbanisation, middle of a lively area
Proximity to restaurants and shops
Walking or driving distance
Proximity to the beach
Walking, driving
Access
Drive time to an international airport
Community
Spanish, international, mainly your nationality, secluded, open to interaction
Use
Required date of availability
Immediate occupancy, longer.
The main purpose of property
Summer holidays, off-season holidays, short regular breaks, 6 months per annum, mainly to rent, primary home, etc.
Used by
Just you and partner, kids, family & friends, rental guests
Rental potential
How much, if any, rental performance is required
The following template covers most of the issues you will need to describe in a written brief.
When giving a written brief to estate agents it helps to provide pictures of properties that appeal to you. Magazines are a good source of inspiration and ideas when looking for example pictures. Cut out pictures of the properties that serve as a guide to what you have in mind and attach them to your brief.
Morgan and Morgan has years of experience in offering a complete solution to your property search. This search begins with a an informal chat, either by phone or in-person to get to know your family needs. “What is the lifestyle you are looking to lead and how can I help you achieve it?”
This article is a part of The Comprehensive Guide in Buying in Mallorca that includes various articles that guide you through the buying process.
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