Talk Quesada forum

daz wrote:My advice is so not use their so called all in house service of solicitor and sales all in one, as the saying goes don’t put yr eggs all in one basket. Use a lawyer, not a solicitor, lawyers are certified to be able to get their title, whereas anyone af some sort of public standing can call themselves a solicitor, the latter can be much less likely to follow all the rules. Lawyers cost the same so why take chances. Check gov.uk website for a list of English speaking lawyers, it may not be bullet proof but I would like to think that if they have made the shortlist there, they may be legitimate. Final bit of advice, no matter how much they ask you for a deposit there and then in the agents shop, make it clear ALL payments will be made through your lawyer, that way you have a legal paper trail and your money is pretty safe. That said, you need a lawyer on board before you even start looking. I emailed a few to ask for their full conveyancy prices, and picked one before we set off in search of our property. Good luck

Many thanks Daz,

I'm sure someone on here will be able to recommend a good lawyer for me to use.

Regards Tim

Blau who advertise on this forum are a reputable company and worth contacting for a quote as are Abaco Advisors who are well recommended as well.

Check out any lawyer/solicitor you use yourself and see how good and quick they are at answering emails and giving advice before instructing them. Also personally I would never use a solicitor who doesn't have a decent website or doesn't have any website (even worse!)

We were dealing with Alex from Petra Honig when we were looking for our holiday home. I told him about another property with another Agent. He was able to organise a viewing for us, and as we bought it, the two agents split the commission. Its something commonly done in Spain. I can highly recommend Petra Honig too. They picked us up from our hotel and took us to all of the viewings. When we purchased from the other Agent, they organised our NIE numbers, bank account, transfer of funds from the UK, standing orders, wills and everything else. And in doing so, they even physically took us everywhere, so we didn't have to find the Notary etc. We were taken through the entire process - completely trouble free.

Thats what they get paid for

Many thanks Daz,

I'm sure someone on here will be able to recommend a good lawyer for me to use.


Regards Tim[/quote]


while recommendations are good, don't just take a recommendation, please research them your self, like I say, the uk has its own list on the ''gov.uk'' website. there may be other sites too, but don't leave it to chance.

another follow on important note to mention is the reason why you need the lawyer on board before you start. this is because when you find the property you want, it is still open for sale right up to the point that a deposit is paid. that is where the agent may pile on the pressure while you are in the shop, about paying several thousands there and then, or risk losing it to someone else while waiting for your lawyer to make preliminary checks that the property is legal, before making a payment on your behalf. so the more you have agreed with your lawyer before you start, is in your favour. You just phone the lawyer and say '''hello lawyer I found one, and this is the agent, please make contact directly with them and do what you do'''. hope that makes sense.

and because of the above, you also would benefit from opening a Spanish bank account. to put the property deposit funds into, ready for the lawyer to use. one I use is Santander zero account, because it is free to use, no monthly charges like many others do. but you will need to research that your self. easy to do, walk into a branch, with passport and uk utility bills. and I did not need an NIE number to open this, this comes later through the lawyer.

you can then use a money transfer company because they are so much cheaper than just through your uk bank, I use 'transferwise' all done online and most importantly, they are comparatively cheap to use. but research one for your self.

there is soooo much more I could tell you, and I wish I had found out more of this type info before I started viewing myself a couple of years back. would have saved me so much fear of parting with money to complete strangers, lol. good luck.

Thanks for your reply, especially the information re lawyers and bank, we’re intending to use Santander as we’ve already an account with them in the U.K. And yesterday I sent emails to SMG Legal and Blau Solictors asking for a quote for legal work.

Regards Tim

daz wrote:My advice is to not use their so called all-in-house service of solicitor and sales all in one, as the saying goes don’t put yr eggs all in one basket. Use a lawyer, not a solicitor, lawyers are certified to be able to get their title, whereas anyone af some sort of public standing can call themselves a solicitor, the latter can be much less likely to follow all the rules. Lawyers cost the same so why take chances. Check gov.uk website for a list of English speaking lawyers, it may not be bullet proof but I would like to think that if they have made the shortlist there, they may be legitimate. Final bit of advice, no matter how much they ask you for a deposit there and then in the agents shop, make it clear ALL payments will be made through your lawyer, that way you have a legal paper trail and your money is pretty safe. That said, you need a lawyer on board before you even start looking. I emailed a few to ask for their full conveyancy prices, and picked one before we set off in search of our property. Good luck

Good advice daz, except one thing I think you're confusing: lawyers and solicitors are the same thing, just different terminology between countries.

Your comment, "anyone of some sort of public standing" should, I think, refer to the title Gestoria. Although some Gestors may be qualified accountants, financial advisors, etc., they do not need to be qualified in anything. Typically, their skill is navigating the enormous amount of Spanish bureaucracy, for which they need no formal qualification. I would never use a Gestor for a property purchase, but they can be useful for admin heavy tasks like obtaining your NIE, Extranjeros listing/Residencia, etc. and whilst a lawyer/solicitor could also do this, typically a Gestor will be cheaper.

Correct Paulr

Mandy&DeanCaddy wrote:We were dealing with Alex from Petra Honig when we were looking for our holiday home. I told him about another property with another Agent. He was able to organise a viewing for us, and as we bought it, the two agents split the commission. Its something commonly done in Spain. I can highly recommend Petra Honig too. They picked us up from our hotel and took us to all of the viewings. When we purchased from the other Agent, they organised our NIE numbers, bank account, transfer of funds from the UK, standing orders, wills and everything else. And in doing so, they even physically took us everywhere, so we didn't have to find the Notary etc. We were taken through the entire process - completely trouble free.

So did you pay Petra Honig the 13% price of the purchase price or were you presented with a breakdown of costs ?
How do you know that the agents split the commission ?

TimT wrote:Thanks for your reply, especially the information re lawyers and bank, we’re intending to use Santander as we’ve already an account with them in the U.K. And yesterday I sent emails to SMG Legal and Blau Solictors asking for a quote for legal work.

Regards Tim

No probs, entirely up to you if u use a solicitor instead of a lawyer, it’s at your own discretion and risk, u will get advice on here ref both, from my experience and far too long winded to explain here, a lawyer is better for you and about the same price.

Also, Santander bank here is completely separate, u need to find a branch here to open an account.

Good luck