We have compiled a step by step selling guide to give you an idea of the process you can expect to go through when looking to sell your property with FM Estates.
Step 1 – Contact with FM Estates
If you are interested in registering your property for sale with FM Estates the first step would be to Contact Us. You can do this in any of the below ways…
- Phone us on +34 952 93 6778
- Email us on [email protected]
- Or via the ‘Contact Us’ page on our website
Step 2 – Initial contact with FM Estates
Once we have made initial contact and taken some basic details regarding the property we will agree a date and time that is convenient for you to come and view your property (so we have firsthand knowledge of the property you are looking to sell).
Step 3 – Listing of property with FM Estates
After our visit to your property we would expect to leave with the following…
- Photographs of your property
- A completed property detail sheet
- A signed ‘Authorization to Sell’ form
- Any Decreto 218 documentation
- Option for FM Estates For Sale Sign
1) Photographs of your property
The photographs we take of your property will be used in our marketing.
We take all our photos with a professional Canon SLR camera and not on our mobile phones like some agents.
The photos will be placed on this website, added onto the database of properties which we spare with 800+ agents on the coast (many agents feed their websites from this database) as well as emailed to our list of potential buyers and associate agents we work with.
Please remember first impressions do count and the presentation of your property is critical to a successful sale. We would advise where possible that you address any DIY jobs you have been meaning to get done, add a fresh coat of paint where necessary and try to de-clutter to make rooms appear larger before we come and take photos.
2) A completed ‘property detail sheet’
Whilst viewing your property we will look to complete one of our detail sheets. This helps us to record all the details of your property. We use these details to write the property description for the website as well as to collate the details used in correspondence with potential buyers and associate agents.
3) A signed ‘Authorization to Sell’ form
When we come to visit you at the property we will bring with and ask you to sign our ‘Authorization to Sell’ form.
Part of the completion of this form is agreeing a ‘for sale’ price for your property. We aim to advise you on what we feel a reasonable price for the sale of your property should be, that will allow you to achieve a sale within your required time scales. However, ultimately the price you choose to market your property ‘for sale’ at is up to you.
Also within this document you can find details of our company commission (only payable on a successful sale) as well as other company terms and conditions.
4) Any Decreto 218 documentation
Once the ‘Authorization to Sell’ form has been completed and signed we will provide you a list of Decreto 218 documentation required, which by law you need to provide to all estate agents when selling a property in Andalucía.
5) Option for FM Estates For Sale Sign
During our visit to your property we will discuss with you if we can place an FM Estates ‘For Sale’ sign at the property.
Step 4 – The Marketing of your property with FM Estates
Once we have visited your property we will then begin to actively market your property for you.
Primarily we will place your property for sale here, on our highly optimised and specialised website.
We also place your property onto a shared database system that 800+ agents on the Costa del Sol use. From here the other agents can find your property when searching with their clients and arrange a viewing, through us, to see the property. Many of these agents use this huge database of properties to populate their personal company’s websites.
We also send your property out to our elite group of associate agents and our potential buyers list etc.
Our aim with our marketing is to give your property maximum exposure so we can find a buyer for you as quickly as possible.
To read more about our Marketing strategy at FM Estates please click here
Step 5 – Accompanied Viewings
As a smaller, family run company we will always have someone available who has viewed your property to deal with any enquiries relating to your sale.
Whenever there is a client wishing to view we will always accompany them on the visit, so we are on hand to give them any extra information they require and offer our expertise of the local area and market to aid in the sale of your property.
Please remember though first impressions do count and the presentation of your property is critical to a successful sale. We would advise where possible that you address any DIY jobs you have been meaning to get done, add a fresh coat of paint where necessary and try to de-clutter to make rooms appear larger before we come with a potential buyer for viewing.
Should you not be based in the area / country, we offer a free key holding service and are happy to show the property on your behalf.
Step 6 –Receiving an offer
Once we have a client wishing to purchase and an offer has been received we will notify you verbally and where necessary in writing.
We will then handle all the negotiations between you and the potential buyer.
Step 7 – Offer agreed
Once you accept an offer we will do the following:
- Write to all parties to confirm the agreed price.
- Complete a ‘Offering & Deposit’ form for both parties, vendor and purchaser, to sign.
- Organise collection of / hold the holding deposit to remove property from market for agreed amount of days (as per the ‘Offering & Deposit’ form) and fix the property sale price.NB. The holding deposit amount is deductable from the 10% on exchange of contracts, or from the total amount if the sale goes straight to completion.
- It is illegal for the vendor to change the property sale price or take any other offers on the property during the agreed time once the holding deposit has been collected and the ‘Offering & Deposit’ form signed.
Ask you to confirm your solicitor’s details.
Step 8 – Instructing a solicitor
At this point we always advise both parties to instruct a solicitor.
An efficient and experienced solicitor can make a huge difference to how swiftly and efficiently the rest of the sale process runs.
It is always good idea to do some research and have a lawyer before you put your property on the market as this will help to avoid delays.
We have a number of very good, multilingual lawyers we can recommend, if required.
Once you have instructed a solicitor there is then a period (normally between 15 and 30 days) whilst buyer’s solicitor checks out all preliminary enquiries, ie the paper work, legalities, searches, etc. on the property, they will then draw up the private contract between the buyer and yourself, the seller.
At this stage you will be able to agree on dates for exchange of contracts (where the 10% of the purchase price is paid) and proposed date for completion.
We will advise both parties as to the format and legal requirements that are necessary for the sale to progress smoothly and without stress, keeping you informed every step of the way.
Step 9 – Exchange of contracts
When all the details are agreed by both solicitors, the exchange of contracts takes place and 10% of the purchase price is paid.
Once the contract has been signed by both parties the deposit will be paid by the buyer’s solicitor to your solicitor. The completion date is then set by mutual agreement.
At this point, the 10% is non refundable.
Step 10 – Completion
Completion is when the residual monies (usually 90%) are transferred from the buyer’s solicitor to your solicitor’s account.
Completion in Spain always takes place before a Public Notary, on a date agreed by the buyer and seller and at this point the balance due is paid and all keys are handed over to the new owners.
CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR PROPERTY IS NOW SOLD!
During the selling process we will always be available, to both parties, to help deal with any problems or questions that may arise.
We always see the sale process through to the point where completion takes place at the Notary’s office and even after that we are always here to help with any post sale needs.