Selling your property

Questions regularly asked by property owners considering selling in Marbella and across the Costa del Sol, with links to our answers. Our job is to help and advise you when selling your Costa del Sol property. If you're not sure where to start, you can start by asking us.

Questions by subject

• Who should I talk to about selling?
• Choosing an estate agent
• Do I need an estate agent?
• Sole agency and exclusive agreements
• Selling arrangements and marketing
• Estate agent fees and what you are paying for
• No Sale, No Fee
• Valuing your property
• Choosing the right asking price
• Why is my property not selling?
• The general costs of selling
• Capital Gains Tax and the 3% retention
• Mortgages and documents

Who should I talk to about selling?

• Who can I ask to help me sell my Mijas Costa property?
• Why does an estate agent ask so many questions before advising me?
• What will an estate agent need to know before helping me sell my property?
• What questions should I ask an estate agent about selling my property?
• Who do I talk to to sell my property in Marbella?
• Who should I contact about selling my property on the Costa del Sol?
• How many estate agents should I speak to before choosing one?
• Should I speak to more than one estate agent before selling my property?
• What sort of relationship should I expect to have with my estate agent?

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Choosing an estate agent

• How do I find an estate agent I can trust on the Costa del Sol?
• How can I tell whether an estate agent is trustworthy?
• How do I find an estate agent who will put my interests first?
• How do I choose the right estate agent to sell my property?
• How do I know which estate agent is right for me?
• What should I look for when choosing an estate agent?
• Should I choose the estate agent who gives me the highest valuation?
• Should I choose the estate agent with the lowest commission?
• Does it really matter which estate agent I use?
• How can I tell whether an estate agent is good?

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Do I need an estate agent?

• Do I need an estate agent to sell my property?
• Can I sell my property myself?
• Can I sell my property privately on the Costa del Sol?
• Why should I use an estate agent when I could sell my property myself?
• What can an estate agent do that I cannot do myself?
• Is it difficult to sell a property without an estate agent?

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Sole agency and exclusive agreements

• Why do Costa del Sol estate agents ask for exclusivity?
• Should I agree to an exclusive or sole agency?
• Is it better to use one estate agent or several?
• What are the advantages of using one estate agent to sell my property?
• What are the possible drawbacks of using several estate agents?
• What is the difference between sole agency and sole selling rights?
• Can I sell my property privately if I have signed an exclusive agreement?
• Could I have to pay commission if my estate agent did not introduce the buyer?
• How long does an exclusive agency agreement last?
• Can I leave an exclusive agreement if I am unhappy with the service?

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Selling arrangements and marketing

• How will my Costa del Sol property be marketed?
• Will my property be shared with other Costa del Sol estate agents?
• Can I sell my Spanish property while living abroad?

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Estate agent fees and what you are paying for

• What do estate agents do for their money?
• What am I actually paying an estate agent for?
• What does an estate agent do for their commission?
• Are estate agents worth their fees?
• Why are estate agent fees so high?
• What does an estate agent do apart from advertise my property?
• Why should I pay an estate agent when I could advertise my property online myself?

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No Sale, No Fee

• What does No Sale, No Fee actually mean?
• Do I pay an estate agent if my property does not sell?
• Who pays for the marketing if my property does not sell?
• Do I have to pay for photographs and advertising if my property does not sell?
• Does an estate agent get paid if I take my property off the market?
• Who takes the financial risk when an estate agent works on a No Sale, No Fee basis?
• Why does an estate agent care whether my asking price is realistic?

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Valuing your property

• What is my property worth in Marbella or on the Costa del Sol?
• How does an estate agent decide what my property is worth?
• Is there an exact value for my property?
• Is the asking price the same as the value of my property?
• How accurate are online property valuations?
• Can I value my property by comparing it with other properties for sale?
• How do I arrange a valuation of my Costa del Sol property?
• Is a property valuation free?
• Do I have to sell through the estate agent who values my property?
• What happens during a property valuation?

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Choosing the right asking price

• How do I choose the right asking price?
• Should I put my property on the market above its value to allow for negotiation?
• Should I start with a high asking price and reduce it later?
• What happens if I put my property on the market too high?
• How much room should I leave for negotiation in my asking price?
• How do buyers decide whether my property is the right price?
• How do buyers decide what they are prepared to pay for a property?
• Is there really a correct price for a property?
• Why do buyers make offers below the asking price?
• How do I know what buyers are really prepared to pay?

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Why is my property not selling?

• Why is my Costa del Sol property not selling?
• Why am I not getting enough interest in my property?
• Why am I getting viewings but no offers?
• Why is my property not selling when the market is supposed to be strong?
• Should I change my strategy if my property is not selling?
• Could my asking price be stopping my property from selling?
• Can poor presentation or marketing stop a property from selling?

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The general costs of selling

• What costs are involved in selling a property on the Costa del Sol?
• How much does it cost to sell a property in Spain?
• What expenses should I allow for when selling my property?
• What taxes will I have to pay when I sell my property?
• Do I need a lawyer when selling a property in Spain?
• What is Plusvalía when selling a property in Spain?

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Capital Gains Tax and the 3% retention

• What is the 3% retention for non-resident property sellers in Spain?
• What costs and taxes apply when a Spanish resident sells a property?
• What costs and taxes apply when a non-resident sells a property in Spain?
• How is Capital Gains Tax calculated when a Spanish resident sells a property?
• How is Capital Gains Tax calculated when a non-resident sells a Spanish property?
• Which purchase, improvement and selling costs can be deducted when calculating Capital Gains Tax?
• Are residents over 65 exempt from Capital Gains Tax when selling their main home?
• Do sellers over 65 still have to pay Plusvalía Municipal?
• Can a non-resident reclaim the 3% retention after selling a Spanish property?

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Mortgages and documents

• What does it cost to cancel a mortgage when selling a property in Spain?
• What happens if an old mortgage has not been removed from the Land Registry?
• What documents should I prepare before selling my property in Spain?

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Have we missed your question?

If you have a question that we haven't answered, we'd love to hear it, and we will do our best to give you an answer. Call us on (0034) 952 90 52 00, WhatsApp us, or email info@michael-moon.com.