Real estate agency in Istria – how can we help you with buying and selling?

We always emphasize that honesty and integrity are our main characteristics. That's why we will say it openly: we are aware that the perception of real estate agencies, especially in a desirable region like Istria, is often negative and that some clients try to bypass us. Many do not know exactly what we do, and we are here for a reason. If our services did not bring benefits, we would not even survive on the market, right? That is why we want to explain what benefits we offer. Let's start in order – with the seller.

What do we offer in real estate sales?

You own a property in Istria and would like to sell it. At first, it seems like a simple process. You think something like this: you will take a few photos, put them on a sales platform, buyers will contact you, you will choose the one who offers the best price, you will conclude a contract and that's it. And you really tried, but also realized that weeks and months have passed, and you are still at the beginning. Finally, you admit to yourself that it is a bigger task than you thought.

Determining the price of a property

If you have noticed that some properties have been on the market for a long time, the reason is often a too high price that does not correspond to what the buyer is getting, whether it is the location, decoration or square footage. That is why it is crucial to determine the optimal price that realistically represents the value of the property. Although many sellers expect that the agent should know this price "off the cuff", the reality is different. Abroad, the estimate is often available with one click, but here this is not the case. Therefore, although an experienced agent can provide a rough estimate, for more precise data it is recommended to monitor statistics and use platforms such as arvio.hr and it is best to request an official estimate from an impartial third party. However, even with the optimal price, the sale is not guaranteed because the final price is always determined by the market, or the buyer, and good marketing plays a key role in this. Therefore, the price of a property is not just a promise, but the result of a well-designed process and strategy.

For all of you who still want us to give you an estimate, here is how we do it. We check the price of the property for the past two years in the Tax Administration's database of sold properties. Of course,

we also look at the price at which similar properties were sold and make a comparison. We go a step further and also analyze your competition, and of course, when buying and selling houses, we also use the cost method of calculation. We want to be sure of the price you set, because no matter what marketing you use later, if you set the price incorrectly at the beginning, the scenario from the beginning of our story will happen to you - the properties will remain for sale for months.

Since following market trends is part of our job description, we know how to do it. The properties we sell will sell faster, and in the end you will get more money than if you had sold it yourself. Remember the old one, an empty house still has its costs!

Our marketing process

It is not enough to just put a property online. High-quality photos are essential because they must present the full potential of the property, and this requires a professional with good equipment and an eye for detail.

After that, these photos should be put to good use. Ads on social networks and platforms like Google are an ideal choice, especially since hardly anyone buys printed classifieds these days, and they are inaccessible to foreigners anyway. The key to successful marketing is statistics, or monitoring results. As the saying goes: "You get what you measure". By monitoring ads and responses, you can get feedback from the market and, if necessary, change your strategy and adjust the price.

Selling a property is a process, not a waiting period. Similar to fishing, where you need to prepare your equipment, monitor the forecast and tides, and choose the right bait, every step in selling is important in order to achieve the desired result.

A real estate agency like ours will take care of that part as well. The goal for both parties is very clear: we want to close the sale for you as soon as possible. And when we say “that part”, we mean everything – photography, drone filming, advertising and the entire marketing package.

Property viewing and negotiations with (potential) buyers

If you work from 8 am to 4 pm, you will hardly be able to miss work often to show your property to potential buyers. Also, if that happens, most sellers will not be able to show all its strengths, for a simple reason. You are looking at your property with the eyes and heart of the owner, not the potential buyer. And in these situations, the additional motivation that they might have to buy will be missing. If we openly tell you that 50% of buyers are so-called “walkers”, we believe that it is clear to you that you have to be quite skilled in recognizing who really makes sense to devote yourself to.

That is why we do all this for you. And when interested buyers appear and want to make an offer, we will advise you in detail throughout the entire negotiation process. We work in a way that you know that we are ALWAYS available to you for any questions and concerns you may have.

What can a real estate agency in Istria offer buyers?

If you are looking for your future home or vacation home, you primarily want to get what you pay for. And it will very often happen that in a short period of time after the purchase, a person discovers all the shortcomings. And then overthinking starts, that is, you wonder what you could have done differently. "If only I had paid more attention to the roof, if only I had waited to buy and looked further..." But the old lady with the cakes is gone.

And here we want to emphasize one more thing. Although accepting your offer makes you sweat, practice shows us that buyers only then start to sweat. And here's why. After that, a whole series of tasks follows: from legal procedures and property condition inspections to handling paperwork and coordinating with banks and lawyers. If you think that's all, you are wrong. This is followed by signing the contract with a notary, registering the ownership rights, transferring utilities, taking out insurance and collecting the keys.

We don't want to scare you, but to show you the reality. That's why we are here to guide you through every step and ensure that the process goes without stress.

A property according to your wishes

If you are looking for a dream property and have a long "checklist" of wishes, your search can take up to two years. Instead of wasting time, hire an experienced agent who will prepare a shortlist of properties for you. All you have to do is look at the offer and choose the ones you want to visit. Although the agent will do their best to satisfy your wishes, sometimes it is not possible to find everything you are looking for. For example, a property in the first row to the sea is very rare on the market and often sells even before it is officially advertised, because there are already waiting lists for it.

We offer a property search service, where we act as your private agent. After an arranged meeting (in the office or via Zoom), we analyze your wishes – location, square footage, age of the property, etc. – and give you a rough financial estimate. You will immediately know if your request fits your budget. If not, we will suggest the next best option. If we do not currently have a property that meets your criteria, we will actively search for it on your behalf, using our channels and contacts with other agencies and investors. During Zoom meetings, we review all the options found together, with the aim of selecting the best properties to visit in one afternoon. You can find more information about this service on our website.

Saving on renovations

What if the property is not in the condition you would like? Buying a property that is not in perfect condition brings additional costs. Although a leaking roof or outdated installations are not the end of the world, it is important to be aware of all the disadvantages and potential financial expenses.

We will not keep this information from you. We will openly discuss all the advantages of the property, but also what repairs are necessary and how much they would cost.

How do we help you with the buying and selling process?

In order not to describe the entire buying and selling process, we will refer you to a blog we recently wrote on this topic , where you can find every step in buying and selling real estate.

What we will explain to you here is our role in all of this. If you just take a look at the blog, you will see that there are a lot of steps, and even more paperwork. It can easily happen that you skip a step or that you are missing some of the papers and contracts. That is why you have us and you can always contact us with questions related to the procedures in buying and selling real estate. Although we are not authorized to provide legal advice, we will refer you to trusted lawyers and notaries with whom we regularly cooperate. Our acquaintances greatly facilitate the process.

So, a real estate agency is not just an intermediary, but your path to a successful sale. If you take a look at our website, you will see numerous recommendations from satisfied buyers and sellers who are always happy to recommend us further. Word of mouth is still very important!

If you found yourself in this blog and would like more information , please contact us with confidence.