What to expect when you view properties with us

It’s time, you’ve booked your flights, picked out where to stay, found your passports and now you’re waiting in the departure lounge ready to board the plane to bring you to us here in Portugal. It is all starting to feel very real now.

Making a trip to Portugal to view properties with us is more than just looking at houses or apartments, it’s the perfect time to experience the Algarve as a local rather than a tourist. Really have a think about how you can make the most of this – book a rental apartment or villa rather than a hotel, shop at the local shops and while you are acclimatising to the relaxed pace of life take it all in and see if this way of life could suite you in the foreseeable future. It’s an exciting step towards your new life in the sun, but what should you look out for when you are viewing properties because, believe us, you are going to like 99% of the options we show you, so you will need to have specific questions on hand to weed out the top of the props.

Even though we enjoy over 300 days of sunshine every year, it’s not a great idea to think of a property viewing trip as a chance to also grab a quick holiday in the sun. If you want to spend some time enjoying the beaches, the weather, the food and the sites like you do on holiday, it’s better to book a few more days onto the end of your trip so that once you have viewed the properties, been to the lawyers, bank etc you can enjoy a couple of dedicated chill-out days.

Prior to your arrival, you will have been in touch with us about your property requirements. You will have given us your property “must-haves” as well as your budget, location preference - to make yourself feel more familiar with the area and prepared for your trip it’s a great idea to research locations using google maps to give you an idea of what is around, best ways to get to the beach, nearest golf course, shops, bars etc - and lots of other information about what you are looking for regarding your perfect Portugal property. Together we will have looked at some options online. We will have arranged viewings of these as well as some other options we feel suit your requirements so that you have a great choice to choose from while you are with us.

Ideally, all the decision makers should be on the trip and on the morning of your viewing appointment, we will meet you all at your accommodation or a pre-arranged location at the specified time. Our Triennial Property expert will have already been in touch with you over the phone and now is the time to put a face to the voice. They will meet you and sit down for a few minutes to have a quick chat before going to see the first property.

We will have contacted the vendors a few days before to confirm the viewings. This means that we have a timetable already arranged with a logical plan of what to view so we are not wasting time driving all over the Algarve. If you want to join us in our car that is great as it gives us the opportunity to point out certain landmarks, restaurants and local hot spots on the way to the property to give you more of a feel of the area you may be purchasing in, but we understand if you would prefer to follow in your own transport. Whatever you want is absolutely fine with us.

Remember that there will be a lot to take in over the next few days, as well as getting a general feel for each property you will also need to consider the practicalities. Make sure you look into things like signs of damp, cracks in walls, property boundaries, communal areas and fees, utilities, services, pool bits and bobs, rental history (if applicable) and plans to develop any land around the property. Check the state of the paintwork outside, what is the access to the property like, look out for natural light inside and which way the property faces – some clients like to do a few viewings of the same property at different times of the day so that they can get the whole picture, is there enough storage, are the rooms large enough or would they be if you configured them better to optimise the space, what can you hear – neighbours, traffic, planes, dogs etc.

When we arrive at the property, we will show you around and then give you time to have a wander on your own – you’ve seen the TV shows, we follow pretty much the same format! Ask any questions you have while you are at the property - would you like to know if you can extend the garage? Add a pool? What are the neighbours really like? Any questions you have, ask away. We will provide you with a printout of the property too so that when you are back at your accommodation after your viewings you can refresh your memory about the properties you saw with us during the day.

Once you have spent all the time you want at the property we will go on to the next and so on. We love to offer our clients choice and we can show anything between 2-10 properties in a day – if you view too many in a day everything blends together so ideally, we like to see you for a minimum of two days so that we can show you all the best options as well as introduce you to some important partners.

During your time with us, we will introduce you to lawyers, furniture specialists, we can set up meetings with banks if you are taking out a mortgage and anything else that you require to ensure you have everything you need to make an informed decision about which property to purchase.

As well as the practical things to watch out for that we mentioned above, there are some Portugal specific ones to keep in mind as well while looking around:

• There is a huge variation between the different regions of the Algarve and some areas are hugely seasonal while others offer a more authentic experience all year round. Make sure to ask what you can expect all year and not just for the time of year you are there,
• Plots of land and ruins often are sold complete with architect's plans, but these are not valid forever, make sure to check the validity of any projects that come with a plot.
• If buying in a development ask how the shared facilities (pool, garden, lifts etc) are managed and clarify the service (condominium) charges.
• Even though you may have seen the location on google maps prior to your visit, it’s a good idea to check out what amenities are on your doorstep and also how far away the local supermarket is and how long it would take to get to the centre da saúde or hospital.

While you are with us take your time, slow down to Portuguese pace and wait for that feeling, that fit to arrive to show you which one is “the one” – it can be difficult to put your finger on but you’ll know when you feel it - and make an offer on it. As we know the market we can advise you about your offer and will of course negotiate on your behalf if the vendor does not accept the first offer we make.

Once your offer has been accepted we can start the ball rolling for the next stage. We will ask you to sign a power of attorney at the lawyers (if you are unable to make it back out to Portugal to sign the Promissory contract and final deeds) so that they can act on your behalf at the notary.

Finally, we can enjoy a celebratory drink before you fly back home with the knowledge that your perfect slice of Portugal is in safe hands with us.