thisisspain says:
I agree almost 100% with everything you say - one wouldn't buy a home in London or Manchester from a bloke in the bar who has only lived their 6 months and doesn't speak the language. Yet it happens here time after time and does no good for the reputation of the agents who do a professional job.

Steve Hall, Torrevieja - NOT an agent!
28/11/2006 22:09:00

goodstich44 says:
I'm sick and tired of people coming along and saying it's your own fault if you get ripped off by liars and cheats, if only it was as simple as that!
We put our deposit down nearly four and a half years ago, when there was a lot less information than there is now. Also the prices at the time were rocketing, we did the homework on this, checked out our local agent, all seemed good. We were naive enough to use the agent recommended lawyer.
Why we came unstuck though, was because of blatent lies by the developer and the agent and the useless lawyer! At some stage everyone has to trust some legal body to work in your favour, and if you are paying them to do that, then that's what you expect.
Our apartment was two and a half years late being built, 22% smaller than contract, only one pool instead of two, still has no LFO, very ugly compared to plans, no landscaping, sewage problems, and still, the developer refused to budge on price of offer any written compensation!

The courts are sometimes as good as useless, in some cases, people are taking their issue to court and still not getting a fair result, when they sue the developer for issues as blatent as above. is it any wonder the sharks continue to prosper????
So please don't tell us it's our fault, it's that very attitude that is contributing to making many decent peoples lives a misery. Perphaps we were naive, (it was all new to us), but that does make the above acceptable in any shape or form. As if we have not suffered enough, we now face a long and expensive court battle, through no fault of our own.
29/11/2006 08:56:00

paynesblues says:
I agree it is very demoralising and humilitating to be told that it is 'all your own fault' when so many of us are forced into believing what the 'professionls' tell us as we would at home. It is not true - yes there are people I am sure who have bought at a bar - although I don't know of any. But I certainly know alot of intelligent decent people who put their trust into a lot of professional liars and cheats.
29/11/2006 09:31:00

flin says:
I must agree that there are many stupid people that buy in Spain on a whim,but hey we need them or else sayings like "a fool and his money etc" would not have been formed.For what its worth my wife and I came on a 1 to 1 inspection flight and were treated like friends by the couple that showed us the properties.Yep,sure, after we bought part of the money goes towards the promotion of the cheap flights and wages and profits etc but I paid the price because I thought it was about right for our property.Paul of Veritas homes says dont use them but I would have been in the hands of some sort of agent at the end of the day and may have found the best con merchant in the business.Paul also advertises "cash back" in his advert where does that come from? All I am saying here is choose what you feel is the right way to buy a property and remember you dont have to buy at all if you dont want to.
29/11/2006 09:47:00

Billyt says:
I completely agree with Paul´s comments. You should always use an agent, and if they are British make sure they are Members of the Federation of British Estate Agents in Spain www.FBEAS.com It has enhanced our imsge tremendously since we joined, with clients knowing that we have to abide by a strict code of Practice. I would recommend it to any British Estate Agents working in Spain and the fees are for nothing.

Bill Peterkin
Manageing Partner
Goulbourn Associates Real Estate
29/11/2006 12:19:00

disgusted says:
The experience i suffered at the hands of one of the big companies on a property tour left me scarred and for a time i fell out of love with the idea of moving to spain.
I did buy from an independent agent and was treated very proffesionally and we now are thoroughly satisfied.Dont forget you can buy the same house from anybody just ask what commisions they charge and pick somebody you feel comfortable with.
05/12/2006 14:08:00

freeradical1950 says:
I wish that I had read your post BEFORE I bought in Spain. We bought from what we thought was a reputable company, and were lied to on just about everything. It has effected me so dreadfully but stupidly, we trusted these people because they were well known and couldnt believe we could be lied to so readily. Its not like we were property 'virgins' as we run a property rental business in the uk. We are protected in the uk from misinformation and we stupidly assumed that the same laws applied in Spain. Our trust and lack of attention has cost us a lot of money and a lot emotionally too. Is there nothing that can be done about these so called 'reputable' companies telling trusting clients outright lies. I'm on a mini campaign now to inform people of the deception of these inspection trips
07/01/2007 08:09:00