Here I am back at my post after a fabulous weeks holiday, here in Benidorm.  
As I have said before there can be no where better in the world to take a 15 year old than Benidorm.  Despite the crisis the place is buzzing and even after midnight it was hard to get along the promenade in a straight line, not because of the Mojitos I had consumed, but due to the number of people just out strolling.
Emily and I enjoyed days in the theme parks of Aqualandia, and Terramitica, as well as lazy days on Benidorms fantastic beaches...what more can a girl ask for......so here I am all bronzed and ready to go.

I did a fabulous psycological thing for my return to work and came back on the Tuesday...it just seemed so much smoother than sharing the post holiday blues with that Monday morning feeling......actually as everyone who knows me knows I flew in the door, hugged eveyone in sight and then eyes down to update my registered clients with the new products that had arrived in my absence.

August is a strange month here in the office.  The world and his brother pass by our office and call in to see what is on the market.  Some are looking for now and others are making a first contact and will seriously buy later.  In all cases we try to show some ideas of what we have that will meet their needs especially as we have some fantastic opportunities just now.  The one issue we have is the owners who rent out their properties and don´t tell us.
I just seem to have this unique knack in bursting in properties and catching clients in a state of undress, or a compomising, position...I never seem to arrive then they are reading the paper!!!!  The great thing is my poor traumatised buyers never forget me, and life is never dull.  I will spare you the gorey details of some of the sights I have seen this week, but suffice to say I have not bumped into Brad Pit!!!!

I am officially one ´Hot Lady´.  It was 46º in my car this week!!!!!  I have been very lucky in having 3 viewings in the lovely village of Relleu this week.  Fab houses and really great value, but the village is in the mountains slightly and so there is a fantastic breeze.  Also it is a typically Spanish village with about 8 bars and restaurants and I just feel it be rude not to show my clients them all!!!!!!  I have featured these houses on my Facebook page (Costa Blanca Premier Estates) if you want a look - or become a friend....and I liked them so much I bought one myself.

Take care, I wish my British clients a dry and amazing bank holiday, and have a fab week

Cia

Had a fabulous opportunity come my way this week.  A well known local constructor sunstantially reduced the price of a limited number of  apartments in a project they have front line of the fabulous Levante beach here in Benidorm.  It is a totally unique Block as it will be the last new construction front line, It will be very luxurious,  plus most of the rest of the apartments in this area were built 20-30 years ago.

Normally at this time we would not offer a project in costruction, but this is one of the most reputable constructors in the area, well know to the family I work for and we know all the bank guarantees are in place and thus no risk to our clients money.

My first challenge was to visit the show apartments, which were very impressive with some of the most spectacular views over Benidorm I have ever seen.  Then the biggie….it was suggested we got a feel for the lay out of the block by going up and taking a look at the orientation etc.   Well I was warned to bring flat shoes and the hard hat was a clue….so this lady, braved a look round a 21 story construction in the work mens external elevator…….not bad for she who is terrified of heights and likes to keep both feet on terra firma.

Back to the office we all go and time to lift the phone and offer this fantastic deal to the clients we have on our data base.  One has to bear in mind there are 8 of us working in quite a small office, all knowing that this deal would sell quick (yes even in a crisis value will sell, and certainly Spanish investors that know the Benidorm area, will see this as on once in a lifetime opportunity), we all get on our phones and start calling our clients.  The noise!!!!!  We sales folk get quite excitied and remembering that the Spanish tend to use their arms a lot when talking, it was nearly as dangerous as the lift.  Marco the poor waiter who brings us coffee (and sometimes the yummiest cakes you ever saw) to our desks, entered with trepidation written all over his face.

Prospective buyers came rushing to Benidorm from Northern Spain as fast as their People Carriers would bring them and the 23 units were sold in less that a week.  By the end the man who worked the constructors lift and I were great chums and he complimented me on how pretty I was when the colour returned to my face (one has to take a compliment when it comes at a certain age….and my life was in his hands).  I sold the last unit to a lovely gentleman who just happened to pop in the office to see if there was anything interesting on offer (Goodness would I like to go shoe shopping with this man!!!!!)…he made a decision on the spot, bought a fabulous corner unit, and we got the purchase confirmed at 13.59 as the sales office closed for the Summer and the deal finished…..we did it what a team!!!!!!

Actually, I don´t know about shoe shopping may be I should put him on the top of my Husband Nº 2 list – lets face it he has some amazing qualities.

Well we have all survived the week, everyone is weary but amid the crisis it has been great to return to panic buying time, especially when one has 100% confidence in the deal they are offering.

Well, I am off on holiday next week…. And while I will miss my chums, I m really looking forward to a relax, some beach days and some great nights out.  Believe it or not Emily and I have rented and apartment in Benidorm, where better to go with a 15 year old!!!!!!  Look forward to sharing my gossip when I get back!!!!

Welcome to the UK Mums who´s kids have just started their Summer Holidays!!!  It´s great to hear so many English voices and fab to come across UK clients whos confidence in Spain is back up, and they are looking to buy here again.  I think a lot comes down to the fact that we are just circa 2 hours from home, we have a fab health service, and you can live here without speaking the language (although a bit goes a long way!!!!).   Also while the pound has dropped from it´s previous highs in many cases so have prices so we are back when we started...and then when we start looking at the quality of life....well, I won´t bore you just enough to say how good can it get.

I adore the Summer Hols here on the Costa Blanca even with a 15 year old and they get almost 12 weeks here.  There is so much to do, and of course with the climate, beach and pools I can afford to be out and about loads.  I find the youngsters have so much more freedom here and a happy teenager makes for a happy Mother.

Only one real peach of a moment this week.  Walked in to open up an apartment to show to some lovely clients I have from Moscow.  We have the keys and the owner forgot to say they were here on holiday.  In I go, and the poor proprietor thinking he was being robbed dashed staright out the shower....yes you are picturing it now...not pretty.... we are not talking Christian Ronaldo here, and dear me the dear gentleman did not forget his manners and shook my hand before looking down and doing the decent thing.  My job is never boring.  It was all worth it as the buyers adored the apartment and the sale will be completed very soon.

My ego is sky high just now.  I went to get my car MOT.  It´s a bit stressful as I know absolutely nothing about cars, especially in Spanish....well it was all going swimmingly until I got to the checks they do under the car where the man stands in the pit and calls up ...well with no eyes or actions to follow I was stumped.  This lovely gentleman came and assisited me showing me what to do and then he issued my certificate.  While we waited for the computer to say YES, we talked about the origins of my Spanish Surname.  All done so he thanked me and said see you in 2 years...Óh No´say I...I am off to find a husband to do this next time......guess who remembered my name and sent a message to my face book next day....watch this space for gossip.

Have a great week, I know I will........

We have seen all ends of the spectrum this week......firstly a strange request, to put a house, in one of the typically Spanish villages locally, on sale.  The strange part was if I would be able to access the property by climbing over the back wall, not overly inviting to a girl from Essex who values her professional look and was a bit preoccupied by the 6 foot drop.  The other option was to change the locks!!! I must say the warning lights were flashing like mad just now....so I sat with the lovely José for 30 minutes and we did all the checks to obtain ownership details from the land registry.  Always like to be sure.........All is in order and thus I will go hammer and tong to find a buyer for the vendor.....but I will stick by my guns and only go in via the front door!!!

At the other end of the spectrum, our Dani came into the office with a client of his who he has assisted with various purchases over the years.  She saw some photos of a fabulous country finca that we are marketing exclusively in Alfaz del Pi and sat mesmerised in front of the computer drooling - an estate agents dream.  We are currently doing all the checks etc that we make when we put a property on sale to ensure the value of the property is correct both for the buyer and seller.  This house is unique and I fell in love with it trying not to gasp and dribble to much while taking the photos (not a good look!!!!).  No problem accessing this house via various stunning doors (one from 15th century!!!). The good lady announced that was exactly what she wanted and had been looking for for years....I gently administered medical attention to her poor husband as we discussed the approximate price, still to be fixed, once all the professional checks are done.  It broke my heart to have to say to the lady you can not buy it yet!!!  I don´t know who felt worse me or her...I will keep you up to date.

How great is that feeling when you do someone a good turn!!!!  Clients that had been advised by an in-house lawyer that they did not have a claim on the funds paid when a company went out of business.  Hey guys we are in the EU....if the correct process if followed it is 100% safe to buy a property in Spain.....A tip form the top .... always seek independent legal advice.   We took a stroll down to meet the extremely helpful Juan Ramón at Luis Bajo lawyers and it looks like these lovely people will get most of their money back.....can´t wait to celebrate as only an Essex girl can.

Have a really busy week coming up looking for good value properties for our clients  and getting the information out to my clients all over Europe.   Will let you know!!!!!!