Inspection Trip Survival Guide – 5 Essential Items You Shouldn’t Leave Home Without
Most people wouldn’t dream of buying a home in the UK without seeing it; walking through each room, inspecting the quality of the build, researching the local area and its amenities. But what happens if the home you want to buy is located hundreds if not thousands of miles away, overseas? The solution? An inspection trip.
Thousands of potential overseas property buyers go on inspection trips each year, be they organized privately or through an agent or developer. They are designed to offer buyers the opportunity to experience the culture of the country they wish to buy in, meet with local property experts who know the market and buying procedures and view properties which meet their requirements.
Steven Worboys, MD of overseas property experts Experience International, comments,
“Inspection trips are a key part of the overseas property buying process. We believe that knowing and understanding the market you are buying in is essential and so we encourage our clients to visit not only the development(s) they are interested in but the surrounding areas, meeting with the local residents and property professionals.”
So if you are thinking about going on an inspection trip then follow Experience International’s Survival Guide and make sure you don’t leave home without these 5 essential items:
1. Digital camera – Record your memories of not only the properties you’ll view but the local areas you’ll visit. Take both internal and external high resolution pictures as well as any items included in the price and views from the property. Don’t forget the spare batteries!
2. Comfortable shoes – Although you will be met by a local representative and usually driven between developments and around the local areas, there will be some walking involved. Make sure you wear appropriate footwear so you can fully explore properties with basements, garages or rooftop terraces. Sometimes the hidden gems lie off the beaten track.
3. Compass – Get back to basics and check for yourself the orientation of your desired property. For tecchies the ever useful iPhone has a built-in compass however the classic Boy Scout model will do just fine for those technophobes out there. Top tip – try and visit properties at different times of the day to get a true picture.
4. Key questions – Inspection trips present the perfect opportunity to ask anything and everything about a property, its location, the developer and the buying process. Before you go, jot down some key questions to ask such as does the project have full planning permissions in place? Can I see other projects the developer has completed? What exactly is included in the price? What are the service charges and ongoing costs? Who is the lawyer who will represent me? What is their experience and can I meet them? What finance is available, on what terms and with whom?
5. Your cheque book – It is by no means expected but common place for buyers to reserve the property of their dreams on an inspection trip. If you are serious about buying then make sure available funds are in place before you visit to secure the unit. There is normally a 14 day cooling-off period, where the reservation fee is refundable if you change your mind.
Steven Worboys continues,
“From the feedback we have received from clients, the vast majority have found our inspection trips to be invaluable when buying their homes overseas. We adhere to a strict “no hard sell” policy, simply listening to and meeting our clients’ requirements, making the buying process as simple and stress-free as possible.”
Inspection trips are regularly organised by Experience International to Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Cape Verde, Portugal, Madeira and USA and are usually 3 or 4 days in duration with clients covering the costs of their flights although accommodation, airport transfers and some refreshments are subsidised.
For more information on booking an inspection trip the contact Experience International on + 44 (0) 207 321 5858 or visit www.experience-international.com.