FAQ: Owners

Selling your home from abroad can be a bit more complicated than selling it while living nearby, but it is still doable. Here are some steps you can take to make the process go as smoothly as possible:

Hire a reputable real estate agent: Find a real estate agent who has experience in selling homes from abroad, and who can communicate effectively with you while you are away.
Get your home ready for sale: Make any necessary repairs or renovations to your home, and stage it so that it is attractive to potential buyers.
Take good quality photos and videos of your home: Good quality images and videos of your home will help potential buyers get a sense of what your home looks like, even if they can't visit it in person.
Use technology to communicate with potential buyers: Use video conferencing tools to give virtual tours of your home and answer any questions potential buyers may have.
Be prepared to sign documents electronically: Many of the legal documents required for the sale of a home can be signed electronically, so you can complete the process from abroad.
Be patient: The process of selling a home from abroad may take longer than selling it in person, so be prepared for a longer timeline.

It is also important to work with legal professional to ensure that all laws and regulations regarding the sale of a property in that country are being followed.

There are several ways to sell your house, here are some general steps for you to start the process:

Prepare your house for sale: Make necessary repairs and improvements so that your house looks attractive to potential buyers. It is also recommended to prepare your house to be shown, this includes cleaning, organizing, and depersonalizing the spaces.
Set a price: Research prices of similar houses in your area and set a fair price for your house.
Advertise your house: You can advertise your house on specialized web portals for property sales, on social networks or in print media. It is important that the photographs and descriptions of the house are attractive to potential buyers.
Schedule visits: Once requests for visits start to arrive, schedule visits with potential buyers. It is important that you are present during visits to answer any questions they may have.
Negotiate with buyers: Once you have an offer, negotiate with the buyer to reach an agreement on the price and sale conditions.
Close the deal: Once you have reached an agreement, close the deal with the buyer. It is recommended to work with a lawyer or notary to make sure the whole process is legally and safely done.

When preparing your house for visits, there are several aspects you should focus on:

Cleanliness: Make sure your house is clean and tidy. This includes cleaning windows, floors, walls and appliances.
Depersonalization: Remove personal items such as photos and mementos so that potential buyers can envision the house as their own.
Repairs and improvements: Make necessary repairs, such as fixing cracks in walls, repairing appliances and changing burnt-out light bulbs.
Lighting: Ensure your house has good lighting to showcase the best features of the house.
Painting and decorating: If necessary, paint the walls of your house in neutral tones so that potential buyers can see the house with a fresh perspective.
Space: Make sure your house looks spacious and tidy by removing unnecessary furniture and organizing what's left.
Garden: If your house has a garden, make sure it is clean and well-maintained, as this can be an advantage for potential buyers.
Let potential buyers see the house: Don't forget to let potential buyers see the house by scheduling visits and being available to answer questions.

To sell your house quickly, it's crucial to set an appropriate price. If the price exceeds the market value, you're unlikely to receive inquiries. Additionally, a compelling multimedia presentation is essential. Make sure to promote the property through the right channels to gain visibility. We do not recommend listing the property multiple times on the same platform, as this often leads to conflicting or erroneous information, which can confuse potential buyers.

To sell your property, you will need the following documents:

First Occupation License
Land Registry Extract (Nota Simple)
Deed of Sale (Escritura de Compraventa)
Property Tax Receipt (IBI) and Garbage Collection Fee Receipt
Certificate of No Urban Planning Violations
Record of All Built Square Meters (especially if renovations have been made)
Energy Efficiency Certificate

Each of these documents serves a specific purpose and is essential for a smooth and legal sale process.

If you don't have experience in selling a property, it's advisable to contact a professional real estate agency to assist you through the process. The first step is to set a price for the property and gather all the necessary legal documents, as these can also influence the property's value. Once the price is set, take high-quality photos and videos of the property.

Next, promote the property to reach potential buyers. After finding a buyer, you'll enter the negotiation phase to discuss the price and terms of sale. If both parties agree, a reservation contract can be signed to remove the property from the market. Following this, an earnest money contract ("contrato de arras") is typically signed, where 10% of the sale price is paid.

Finally, both parties go to a notary to complete the sale. At this point, possession and keys are handed over, and the remaining balance is paid. It's important to note that reservation and earnest money contracts are not mandatory; you could proceed directly to the notary.

To calculate the price of a property, it's important to consider the actual sale prices of houses in your vicinity, not just their listing prices. Calculate the price per square meter and adjust it based on any improvements or deficiencies in the property. For example, if your property has been recently renovated or has additional features, you may increase the price per square meter. Conversely, if there are issues that need addressing, such as repairs, you may need to lower the price accordingly.

To register your property with the police, you will need the following documentation: Registration with the Junta de Andalucía, a signed and filled-out registration document, and a power of attorney if you are not the owner. It's advisable to contact the National Police or the Civil Guard in your municipality to find out the office hours for lodging registrations so you can register in person. Alternatively, you can also hire a consultant to handle the registration process for you.

The Junta de Andalucía has various regulations for vacation rentals, and these can differ depending on whether the property is classified as rural accommodation or a tourist apartment. Some general requirements include that all bedrooms must have a window for fresh air and natural light, heating must be provided in winter, and air conditioning in summer. Additionally, there are legal requirements such as having a First Occupation License. There may also be community restrictions on vacation rentals, so it's important to check with your homeowners' association if applicable.

To register your property with the Junta de Andalucía, you must either be the owner or provide a notarized power of attorney to a management agency for registration. The registration is done online using a digital certificate on their website. You will need details from the deed, such as the name of the notary, protocol number, and date of sale. If applicable, you will also need the same details for the power of attorney. Additionally, you'll need the owner's details, the cadastral reference, and the number of guests your property can accommodate.

It's crucial to confirm that you meet all the requirements of the vacation rental law at the time of registration. While immediate verification may not occur, inspections can lead to fines if you're found non-compliant. Also, note that if you own three or more properties within a 1,000-meter radius, you are not running a vacation rental but a vacation rental establishment, which has different regulations.

If something breaks in the property during your stay, please contact Homewatch immediately at oficina@homewatch.es. Provide details about the issue, the name of your reservation, and your contact information. Homewatch will dispatch its maintenance team as soon as possible, depending on the urgency of the situation

Before tenants move in, if the property has been vacant for more than a week or has been exposed to strong winds or rain, a thorough cleaning is conducted to ensure everything is clean and fresh for the guests' arrival. Homewatch only charges for the actual hours worked by the cleaning staff; there are no fixed or minimum fees. Additionally, these cleanings are only performed when necessary. In cases where there has been a recent checkout, the property is already prepared for the next tenant, and no additional cleaning costs are involved.

It's important to check the condition of the property and perform a cleaning after each stay. Homewatch charges a fixed fee to each tenant for the final cleaning that takes place after the guests have departed. This fee covers the cleaning of the property, laundry for the linens, and a property review to assess its condition.

Tenant check-in is either done remotely or in person, depending on the property. Prior to arrival, an online check-in process is completed where the IDs and/or passports of all tenants are verified. Subsequently, entry information is sent to ensure a smooth check-in experience for the tenant. Upon check-out, the tenant leaves the keys inside the property. Homewatch will inform you in the following days if there are any issues arising from their stay.

For short-term rentals: The deposit should be fair and proportional to the rental price. While it will naturally be relatively high for short stays, it should not exceed 10% of the rent for longer stays. Overly high deposits can give the impression of fraud to potential tenants and deter them from renting your property.

For long-term rentals: By law, the deposit is limited to one month's rent. An additional one-month guarantee can also be requested.

We recommend a minimum stay of 7 nights for the summer season, 3 nights for the winter season, and 5 nights for the mid-season. These minimum stays are especially important for high and mid-season bookings made for months in the more distant future. As the current month approaches and we enter the "last-minute" booking period, we gradually reduce the minimum nights to 3 or 2 nights, depending on the property.

It's quite simple as each property owner has access to their own owner portal where they can reserve nights for their own use. It's important to do this in advance, as bookings can be made at any time up to a year in advance, potentially making the dates you want unavailable.

Yes, you can. Each property owner has access to their own owner portal where they can reserve nights for their personal use. However, it's crucial to book these nights in advance, as the property can be rented out to guests at any time up to a year in advance, potentially making your desired dates unavailable.

Yes, Homewatch also offers the option to rent your property on a monthly basis. These rentals are governed by the Urban Lease Law and are different from regular residential leases. Our target tenants for these types of rentals are individuals who need accommodation for vacation purposes or for a limited period, such as during home renovations or temporary work assignments.

It's important to set a reasonable price per night for your property. Consider each property as a new business venture; initially, prices may be lower and will gradually increase over time. We live in a world where customer reviews are highly valued, and having a good volume of rentals is key to accumulating positive feedback. Therefore, a competitive pricing strategy is essential, especially when you're just starting out