Property buyers survey reveals 63% happy

A new survey conducted by Inmueble and Spanish Property insight reveals that some 63% of buyers are happy, or very happy to have bought a home in Spain.  A number did not respond, and only 6% were unhappy to have done so.

In recent years there has been a stampede to buy property abroad, principally in Spain. New magazines and TV programmes have jumped on the bandwagon and countless estate agents have appeared from nowhere.
 
The survey was targeted at foreign buyers, many of whom are British.  The accompanying analysis emphasised that one of the keys to a satisfactory experience was the level of after-sales service available by the estate agent.  Although 40% were satisfied or very satisfied with the after-sales service of their estate agent in Spain, 34% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.

Mary Spencer, of Tenerife Property Shop commented, 'We have continuously voiced our concerns about after-sales service in our industry.  Whereas we invest a substantial amount into a whole department who deal specifically with this area of client care, there are agents who are practicing on the market who simply make no effort on the client's behalf.'

Mark Stucklin, of Spanish Property Insight, summarises that '34% of buyers, or more than 1 in 3, are dissatisfied with the after-sales service of real estate agents in Spain which is remarkable.' 
Stucklin goes on to say, 'Based on our experience we believe that in general, real estate agents in Spain are no worse than in any other country and that a similar pattern would emerge in a survey of opinions towards real estate agents in the United Kingdom or Ireland.'  He concludes, 'it (the survey) does show that when buyers get the purchase right the overwhelming majority of them are happy to have bought in Spain.'

Mary Spencer, well known on the island for championing the cause of quality to the foreign client commented, 'It is important that as an industry we provide a superior service to our clients.  Our clients are buying a home in a foreign country with a foreign language and completely different laws and practices.  To help them do this, we need to be able to provide them with a vastly superior service to that given by agents back home.'