Article reproduced by kind permission of Quest Bulgaria Magazine
www.questbg.com
info@questbg.com

Ready to make your trip to Bulgaria to look for your dream home? A few tips on how to handle 'the viewing trip' to make sure you get the most out of it.

Before you go

Give the agent as much information as possible about what you are looking for. Don't choose an area that is too big to cover in your time-frame - be sensible about distances (it's all too easy in the excitement to forget that we all need loo breaks, nourishment, time to reflect and time to ask questions).

Properties are coming and going all of the time, so expect that things will have altered by the time you get there and what you have seen advertised may no longer be for sale. On the other hand, there will be others which will have come onto the market. It's hard for agents to keep information up to date, especially when they do not have the property on an 'exclusive' basis plus vendors often don't let an agent know when their property has been sold, sometimes only finding out it has gone at the time they try to book a viewing. Bear in mind that tv programmes transmitted in Britain are often very very out of date (some being filmed a year before), so prices too will have changed.

Don't get fixated by one or two properties you have seen on the internet; often they end up the least suitable! Keep an open mind.

A decent agent will advise you before you get there on planning your trip, perhaps organise for someone to meet you at the airport, help you with accommodation, and generally look after you all round.

Check agents' fees, their commission, drivers costs, viewing costs, and so on before you get there so you know what you'll need to pay.

Book appointments with the agents in advance - not many can handle you walking in off the street; most of their people will be out with customers already on viewings and they will often ask you to come back the next day (which you may not be able to do). If you can, it's always a good idea to phone the agency before you go and speak to them personally rather then relying on just email - that way you will get a real feeling for them.

Book your travel arrangements first if possible as it can become a real pain for you and the agent if you keep having to re-schedule appointment dates. They will often hold a day for you for say 24 hours whilst you confirm travel arrangements.

When thinking about your time, allow a full day for viewing properties with any one agency. It is important to allow yourself plenty of time to view properly. By the way, do check with the agency that they have booked to spend the whole day with you as well!!

Remember, things can happen quickly regarding house purchase in Bulgaria. Any house you like is going to be of interest to others and if you delay in buying someone else won't. Go ready to buy with your finances in place ready to be transmitted for the purchase once you get back home.

Please do tell the agent if you will have children with you. As long as they know, then they can plan the day with more breaks and get a bigger car if need be.

The ideal way is to travel on the first day, get a feel for the area for yourselves on the second day (plus relax a bit after the journey), and then start viewings on the third. We would always suggest leaving a final day blank so that you can go back to property a second time or start on paperwork if you've found something you want.

The Day Itself

Be prepared - this will be a long and tiring day. Be aware that distances between properties are often vast and roads not too good meaning travel can be slow so you can end up spending a lot of time in the car.

Use the time spent in the car to ask questions of the agent, make notes for yourself about the property you have just seen and ask about the next one you are going to see. Make sure you have a map with you so that you know where you are; it's all too easy to become disoriented when you're not doing the driving.

Don't let the agent drag you around 10 or 15 properties in the day, finishing at 7 pm, as this will just leave you in such a state that you won't remember where the houses are and you'll be fedup, tired and confused. You are not just buying a house but what's around it too - take your time. If you are driven to a property from one direction, do ask if you can leave the property from another direction or ask the agent to drive right round the village; this will give you a feel for what surrounds the property as well.

Remember to wear the right clothing. If you're looking in town at offices then business dress is ok; but if you're looking at renovations in the countryside you could end up wading through mud, climbing over fences..

If you are running late and won't get to their offices on time for your appointment, call the agent so that they are informed.

Don't be tempted to take lots of people and family with you. The more people there are the more confusing it will all become. Try to go with only the people directly involved in the purchase.

When actually looking at the properties, do tell the agent what you really think. It's much better to be straight and say if you don't like something rather than staying quiet about it (they'll only show you more of the same if you say nothing!?!?). Letting the agent know what you like and don't like gives them a much better idea of what you want and makes it easier for them to find it for you.

Finally, if you are lucky enough to find something you want to buy at the start of your trip, please do call the other agents and let them know you won't be turning up so they can cancel any viewings they have organised.

Happy Hunting !!!

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