House hunting from afar? 5 tips to make the right choice!
Have you ever watched “Duplex”? It’s a dark comedy about a couple who bought the perfect apartment, on a quiet street. It had two spacious floors and three fireplaces. But then they found the catch: the neighbour from upstairs was annoying and unpleasant on a truly frustrating level. Their dream home then became a frustrating nightmare.
When buying a house, it’s hard to know exactly what you’re getting into. A search engine or a real estate agency can be helpful, but they’re not enough to cover all bases. You need to think about location, to find the right deals, to not be overwhelmed by that first impression…
Then, it all becomes a lot more complex when doing it from another country, having to manage different laws and a different language.
So, how to avoid buyer’s remorse? By following some of the tips we’ve listed for you. If you do so, there’s every chance you’ll be making the right choice!
1) Start with the location of your dreams and only then the house
Not happy with the tiles? You can change those. A bigger living room? Knock down the kitchen wall and you’ll get a large open space. But location is the one thing that can’t be changed, upgraded, or improved.
Ask your representative for insight into the area. That’s an essential step to determine which school your children attend to, how long your commute is, or what your social life might be like.
2) Figure out the “Why” before the “What”
Do you have a chance to work remotely from another country? Are you retiring? Or do you just want to move to a new and sunny place, enjoy the dazzling cuisine and make the most of an amazing investment opportunity?
Whichever your reason is, understanding the why will determine what you’re looking for. That will help both you and us.
3) Know what your needs are
Before investing in Portugal, you should know everything about the area you are investing in. After all, the country is not the same everywhere.
Maybe you value access to 5G network. Maybe the proximity to some of the best business schools in the world is important to you. Or maybe you value the perks of the inner areas, with breathtaking landscapes for nature lovers.
As the home of some of the happiest expats in the world, diversity is what sets Portugal apart. And we can help you search and select the area that best suits your needs!
4) List the must-haves and the nice-to-haves
What are your non-negotiable features? Being close to public transport or natural light to work from home? An indoor swimming pool or a big outdoor space? Maybe all of those combined?
Before your search begins, list those mandatory features and, of course, your price range. After all, every housing market is different and one number might put you off.
Fortunately, there’s a way to get around that: through professionals who know the market and whose only job is to do the house hunting for you.
5) To choose the right experts is to make the right choices
“Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you gonna get.” Do you remember this quote from the “Forest Gump” movie?
House hunting doesn’t have to be like that box of chocolates. At YELLOW PORTUGAL, we have a team of real estate and business experts ready to find the house of your dreams. They’ll be your gateway to live and invest in Portugal!
Feel free to contact us and start your dream soon!