Bulgarian Investment Property

Bulgarian Investment Property - Guide to Buying Property Abroad: Part 1 - Don't Rely on the Estate Agents.

I love finding property. Especially overseas. I've been doing it since 1996.

But most people I know, despite their passion for property investing, don't share quite the same amount of enthausiam when it comes to actually finding it.

And it's easy to understand why.

Firstly, theirs the frustration of using an estate agent. I don't know how many times I've wondered what it is exactly they are doing for their commission fee. (Apologies in advance to all those estate agents I know and used. You know I love you really). But you know what I mean.

Then theres the hassle of putting all the pieces of the buying process together - a decent solicitor or a savvy mortgage advisor or even a tax advisor! Plus there could be builders, plumbers, electricians, plasterers. It seems like the whole world and his wife are involved if renovation work is required.

And if someone has already been in and done a quick revamp, then look out! You never know what proverbial cracks have been covered up.

One would assume that the finding and purchasing process is where the expertise of the Estate Agent should come into it's own. But the system in the UK and abroad, mainly doesn't work like that.

In the earlt days, I used to believe that when an Estate Agent asked you how they could help you, they actually meant it! How wrong I was. As we all know, it's just a very polite way of luring in then selling you something they simply want to get shot of and make their fee as fast as possible.

I can recall plenty of conversations with agents whose idea of matching my property requirements left a lot to be desired. A older style 2 bedroom flat in a coastal location would fall on deaf ears and I would be shown 4 bedroom off plan detached properties fifty miles from the coast or a 1 bedroom hole overlooking the local sewerage works!

And after you explain how inappropriate their suggestions are, that will be the last you hear of them. It beggars belief. Considering how established the property market is, I'm always amazed at the poor levels of service.

Buying property is probably the biggest purchase we are ever going to make in our lives, yet the buying systems in operation in most of the World obligates us to trust the information and price negotiations from someone who is being paid by the other side - and that's if they even turn up for the viewing! (Don't get me started on that)

That said, it's not entirely fair to blame the estate agents for a (potentially) frustrating finding and buying experience. They are not being paid by us, and lets face it, even if we were paying them, we'd never want the prosecution to act as our defence now would we?

We spend at least four times longer looking for the right pair of jeans than we do buying property, yet we spend hundreds of thousands more. For that reason alone, I will never let an agent rush me through a property, and I'm certainly not afraid to visit it or 'try it on for size' a good few times. Remember, an agent isn't about to point out the damp, faulty wiring, leaking taps, broken radiators ..........

Would you like me to find your dream property in Bulgaria for you for free? I will use my local knowledge and contacts to find the right property, in the right location and at the right price. And at no charge to you.

Interested? Email me at peter@bulgarian-investment-property.com with your requirements. I'll have several perfect properties for you to look at within two weeks.

Bulgarian Investment Property

# posted by Peter Skuse @ 9:48 am