ager to get back to ordering our meal I foolishly gave her my mobile number. Oh, what a mistake, hard selling calls twice a day and her husband was a plumber who would solve all our future needs, finally I was not so polite. Remembering the warning given to usHave you done your homework?

No, we are not back at school, hating the dreaded homework as it stopped us doing other “better, more exciting things” To clients we ask this question regularly. With so much information at hand on moving to Spain, we ascertain what they know and listen to what they want.

Seven years ago whilst doing our homework on this area, a chance meeting with a British couple who have lived here for over 20 years gave us more of an insight than any books, websites or TV programmes on the subject of relocation to Spain. One comment they made was “if you wouldn’t do it at home don’t do it here” they warned us about buying property and other services from strangers!! This comment (made like a parents warning to a child) sat uncomfortable with me until I experienced what they meant. In English discussing the menu in a restaurant a few days later the first approach was made, I was polite to the British women offering to show us several houses without knowing our budget or what we were looking for. Eager to get back to ordering our meal I foolishly gave her my mobile number. Oh, what a mistake, hard selling calls twice a day and her husband was a plumber who would solve all our future needs, finally I was not so polite. Remembering the warning given to us,

tain what they know and listen to what they want.

Seven years ago whilst doing our homework on this area, a chance meeting with a British couple who have lived here for over 20 years gave us more of an insight than any books, websites or TV programmes on the subject of relocation to Spain. One comment they made was “if you wouldn’t do it at home don’t do it here” they warned us about buying property and other services from strangers!! This comment (made like a parents warning to a child) sat uncomfortable with me until I experienced what they meant. In English discussing the menu in a restaurant a few days later the first approach was made, I was polite to the British women offering to show us several houses without knowing our budget or what we were looking for. Eager to get back to ordering our meal I foolishly gave her my mobile number. Oh, what a mistake, hard selling calls twice a day and her husband was a plumber who would solve all our future needs, finally I was not so polite. Remembering the warning given to us

the subject of relocation to Spain. One comment they made was “if you wouldn’t do it at home don’t do it here” they warned us about buying property and other services from strangers!! This comment (made like a parents warning to a child) sat uncomfortable with me until I experienced what they meant. In English discussing the menu in a restaurant a few days later the first approach was made, I was polite to the British women offering to show us several houses without knowing our budget or what we were looking for. Eager to get back to ordering our meal I foolishly gave her my mobile number. Oh, what a mistake, hard selling calls twice a day and her husband was a plumber who would solve all our future needs, finally I was not so polite. Remembering the warning given to us me until I experienced what they meant. In English discussing the menu in a restaurant a few days later the first approach was made, I was polite to the British women offering to show us several houses without knowing our budget or what we were looking for. Eager to get back to ordering our meal I foolishly gave her my mobile number. Oh, what a mistake, hard selling calls twice a day and her husband was a plumber who would solve all our future needs, finally I was not so polite. Remembering the warning given to usager to get back to ordering our meal I foolishly gave her my mobile number. Oh, what a mistake, hard selling calls twice a day and her husband was a plumber who would solve all our future needs, finally I was not so polite. Remembering the warning given to us, I told her that we would use a registered estate agent; buying a house the same way as in England and the services of her husband were not required!!

Using websites to look at what property is available in the comfort of your home is a great way to “window shop” but knowledge of the area is essential, back to doing your homework. Independently from an agent, spend time travelling in the area visiting villages and towns (remember between 1 – 5pm and Sundays they are more sleepy than normal with shops shut and only restaurants and cafes open). Once you have found areas of preference use these locations to narrow down you new home. The clich? Location, Location may sound trite but the right house in the wrong area is impossible to solve. People have waited over a year for the right house in just one village!

If you are at the first stages of looking for a property, use websites giving information on the legal process, do check when they were last updated. Books on the subject tend to be out of date before they are i