|
Another reason why the majority of foreign buyers of Spanish property end up using a lawyer recommended by their estate agents is because they tend to buy in such a hurry. People on 2 or 3-day Spanish property inspection trips are usually unprepared for the buying procedure and end up signing contracts and paying reserve deposits on the last day before rushing to the airport. They simply don't have time to find a lawyer for themselves and feel grateful when the estate agent suggests a 'very good' lawyer who can help them, indeed who is waiting to receive them at that very moment - what a surprise. However buyers who use these lawyers don't realise what a minefield they are walking into, and end up hiring the very lawyers they most need protection from.
The fact of the matter is that using a solicitor recommended by an estate agent or, what is worse, the agent's in-house lawyer, you should try to avoid. Estate agents are highly motivated to close sales that pay commissions and unscrupulous agents recommend lawyers who will facilitate this outcome. Buyers can be lulled into a false sense of security whilst the recommended lawyers do nothing more than oil the wheels of the transaction on the estate agent's behalf. The buyer's need for security of purchase can become irrelevant in this equation.
More commonly, though, estate agents in Spain recommended lawyers that appear to be completely independent from the estate agent. In many cases the independence will be genuine and the recommended lawyer will look after the buyer's interests. However in too many cases the lawyers have a dependent business relationship with the estate agents that can undermine the legal service received by the buyer. Note that many lawyers have to pay estate agents a part of the fees they receive in return for introducing clients.
When buying something as expensive as property in a foreign country you need a lawyer who you can be certain is working for you and you alone. Looking for an independent lawyer once a dispute has started is like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. You need your own lawyer from the very start.
So what are you waiting for, if you wish to hire the services of a solicitor on the Costa del Sol, then contact Arturo Perez Gonzalez, as soon as possible, see paragraphs 3 and 4 above, and hire yourself a totally reliable and independent solicitor!
|