Along the way of purchasing your property, you will need the guidance and help of a variety of people, some more than others. The whole process can be overseen for you. Some foreign investors only ever have minimum contact with people in the chain – an initial meeting, some phone calls and picking up the keys – for others, it may be necessary to get more involved. Most people you will need to contact will have a good working knowledge of English – some will be excellent speakers of the language and very used to dealing with foreign buyers.

In other cases, such as sorting out building instructions, it will pay to learn the rudiments of Portuguese (see also Chapter 11). Feedback from people who have been through the process is included in this chapter, but on the whole, the feeling is that, with good legal representation, the process itself can be painless and take less time than one might expect (see also next chapter).

Estate Agents

We mentioned in Chapter 4 the different means by which you can find out about property for sale. Estate agents can be UK-based, advertising in the UK press and specialist magazines, or have offices in Portugal with all the accompanying services one might expect of a normal estate agency (property details/photos/models of new complexes/access to further advice and professionals/letting services/property management). In Britain, a Code of Conduct established by the National Association of Estate Agents governs the behaviour of agents and gives certain protection to consumers, particularly in cases of misrepresentation of a property and its features. Unfortunately, no such law covers estate agents in Portugal.

In the Algarve the choice of (mostly) English-speaking agencies is bountiful. Many of them advertise in the English (or Dutch/German) publications there, and in specialist property magazines and supplements, such as Algarve Property Advertiser. You can pick these up in the resorts, at some tourist newsagents, Tourist Offices, and at the agencies themselves. For copies in the UK, ring the Distribution Company on 0179-225 229. Don’t be afraid to visit a number of different agencies and pick up as much information as you can from each, before sitting down and sifting through it all.

Not all English-speaking agents will guarantee an efficient service, as Mr and Mrs X, in Lagos, found. They had found the ideal property, but the English estate agent lost interest in their offer. A year later, the house was still for sale, so they ended up buying direct from the owners.

After many happy years there, they are currently selling, and have encountered a number of ineffectual agents (both English and Portuguese), charging huge commissions to sell (4–5%). They have gone down the route many Portuguese people do, and have found that a notice on the wall of the house has brought in much more interest.

Mediador Autorizado

Estate agents in Portugal, foreign or otherwise, should be officially recognised and belong to one of a number of organisations, such as:

• Sociedade de Mediação Imobiliária
• Associação de Mediação Imobiliária
• Associação dos Mediadores do Algarve

 

Licensed agents have an official AMI number which should be displayed. Ask to see it if you are unsure. They will be known as a mediador imobiliário or autorizado. Despite this registration of agents, they are still not tied in with any form of consumer protection legislation. Interestingly, though, estate agent members of the Portuguese UK Chamber of Commerce have agreed to abide by the Code of the British Association of Estate Agents. For a list of members, contact the Chamber on Tel: 020-7494-1844. You can also contact the Federation of Overseas Developers Agents and Consultants (FOPDAC) for lists of their members. Tel: 020-8941-5588 or email: info@fopdac.com

Some estate agents are one-man, or family-run businesses, offering a bespoke, personal service. Others may be part of huge chains, conveyor-belt style sign-’em up and move-’em on. That is not to say that they are not professionals doing a good job, they may just be snappier, and more keen to get the process moving – which in fact may be just what you want. But don’t feel pressurised in any way – remember this is an important point in your life, and involves life-changing decisions, especially in respect of parting with well-earned money. If you are not happy with an agent, there is no shortage, so try a different one.

Word of mouth is often a good starting point for many people: if you already know someone with property in Portugal, ask them which agent they used, or which they would avoid. Word soon gets round the foreign communities in the Algarve as to who is sound to deal with, and there are some now well-established agents out there. See Directory pages for a selection.

Elsewhere in Portugal, it is more likely you will be dealing exclusively with a Portuguese mediador. Again, as highlighted in Chapter 2, it is vital you have a modicum of the language to get you started in the process, plus access to an English-speaking lawyer. This may be arranged via the agent, who will have contacts locally. A number of Portuguese agents working in central and northern Portugal have now started advertising in the Dalton’s Weekly newspaper, available in the UK. Anyone interested in property in central Portugal (Coimbra environs) may be encouraged to contact the agent recommended by Andrew B.: Eduardo Silva, of Villarq. Lda, in Penela, can be reached by email on: villarq@mail.telepac.pt or by phone: 23-9561 025 and on website: www.villang.com