Former teachers Mike and Rachel Cunningham from the Lake District say they would have been “really stuck” without the HomeEspaña Aftersales service, after completing the purchase of their two-bedroom apartment in Villamartín, Alicante in February this year.
“Right from the start, Sarah in the Aftersales department told us “you’ve got me for life now” and she’s been brilliant. HomeEspaña is exceptional with its back-up service after completion of the sale, whereas other estate agents will say they’ve got that, but they don’t,” Rachel said.
“Whenever we go into HomeEspaña, and we have been a few times this year, every single person in there has been really welcoming and helpful… translating documents, where to get a taxi, getting a plumber sorted, a cleaner… it goes on and on.”
Mike and Rachel decided to come to Spain in December 2022 to look for a holiday home and chose Villamartín because they had both visited a friend with a property there previously.
“We felt it was where we could both relax the most,” Rachel commented. “We had visits with other agents, but they never showed us what we wanted.”
Rachel said the properties they were shown were too expensive and that she was actually a bit crestfallen after the experience.
“We were having a coffee in Villamartín and saw the HomeEspaña office. We contacted them and they showed us two places we really liked, and one of them we ended up buying,” Rachel said. “When we said to HomeEspaña what we were looking for, it was just right. They just got it right.”
The couple ended up buying a two-bedroom apartment for €80,000 in a peaceful setting adjacent to the Villamartín Golf Course. The apartment comprises a lounge/diner with a fitted kitchen and patio doors leading to a large south-facing terrace. There is a double bedroom, a bathroom and a master bedroom with a separate terrace. The property also benefits from hot and cold air conditioning, an open fireplace, marble floors, off-road parking and a stunning communal pool.
“For me it was the surroundings and the feel of the place… really relaxed. It has two balconies and we can have breakfast outside and sit outside in the evening. HomeEspaña got that balance right. Listening to what we wanted, but not being so pushy. We felt really comfortable and excited at the same time. Natasha was fantastic, really well informed.”
HomeEspaña also put Mike and Rachel in contact with solicitors, a currency company to move their funds from the UK to Spain and also with Kyna Insurance, for their home insurance.
“There are times when I think oh God, can I ask Sarah this?” Rachel laughs. “She has never made me feel that I have tested her patience. She’s done so much.”
After visiting in February to complete their purchase at the notary, Mike and Rachel spent a month in their new apartment this summer and are planning to come back for the Christmas holidays, although she says the entire family have plans to visit as well!
Buy a new build and recover 100% of the VAT by registering the property for a VAT-eligible rental or business activity for 10 years.
When retired advertising and marketing executives Gill and her husband John from the northwest of England reached the conclusion it was time to sell their holiday home in Dehesa de Campoamor (Alicante), they decided to act on a recommendation from their solicitor and check out HomeEspaña.
If you are considering selling your property in Spain, it is important to be aware of the latest changes to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regulations.
Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security.
