Checklist: How to find your dream property in Mallorca - With a few small steps to the perfect property
Property search in Mallorca - be careful when choosing your island home. Motto: Not everything that glitters in the sun is gold!
Your gut feeling is only good for the first step when buying a house: deciding whether the property is even worth considering. If you are seriously interested after a positive first impression, you should systematically investigate the condition of the house. As a buyer, you need to know exactly what ancillary costs and expenses you will incur in the coming years for modernizations, conversions and upgrades. Only on this basis is it possible to calculate viable financing.
Create a list of furnitureIn every old house there are hidden dangers and flaws. Discolored plaster, musty smells or damp window frames provide clues. These are often the cause of major building defects that result in high renovation costs. Make a note of everything you notice during the first inspection, even the supposedly minor details. Under no circumstances should you rely on the information provided by the seller or estate agent, as they primarily want to sell quickly and sometimes don't know about the defects themselves.
Real estate viewings during the week
You should arrange your first viewing appointment on a weekday during daylight hours. This will give you a realistic impression of the lighting conditions in the house, the background noise in the neighborhood and the parking situation. In addition to the checklist to tick off all the important points, you should also have a folding rule and compass with you to check the dimensions and location of the living space, balcony or terrace.
When planning the room layout, pay attention not only to size and brightness, but also to usability. Several rooms of similar size that can be used flexibly as bedrooms, children's rooms, guest rooms or home offices are a good idea. When furnishing, you should consider what you are missing or what you don't like. Additional sockets and connections, new floor coverings or a bathroom modernization are expensive and time-consuming.
Second „home visit“ with an expert
As a home buyer, you are on the safe side with a valuation and renovation report from an independent expert. If you are convinced by a house after an initial inspection, it is advisable to make a second appointment with the surveyor. This can take a few hours. If the seller is reluctant to do this, this does not speak for his seriousness. In this case, you should not take any risks and refrain from buying.
Before you decide on a house, you should visit the local authority's building department. Find out about the property and any third-party rights or restrictions imposed by the authorities. It is important to take a look at the development plan for the surrounding area. This way, you know what is to be built there in the coming years - a crucial point for the quality of life in your new home.
Location is a decisive factor
For many foreigners, the island domicile is intended exclusively as an oasis of relaxation. Motto: The children have long since left home and the necessary change for a carefree time has already been earned. So which corner should it be? Mallorca offers a wide range of scenic beauty. Serious estate agents usually recommend potential property buyers to take enough time to explore the island. The valley of Sóller, the bays of Pollensa and Alcúdia, the „wild“ north-east or the lunar south-west all have many and varied attractions to offer.
Whoever decides to live near the sea - preferably in the first place - should take two things into account. The prices for unobstructed sea view properties, whether apartments, apartments or villas, have reached astronomical heights in recent years. And: according to estimates by a well-known German real estate agent, around 50 percent of all foreign residents with a sea view are fed up with salt-encrusted patio furniture, oxidized chrome fittings and ever-damp wardrobes after a year at the latest.
Editorial team
