Delighted with our new life in Dénia

“We first had the idea of selling just before the pandemic struck,” said Mike, aged 54. “We’d stopped visiting so often and thought the time had come to move on. When everything came to a halt during the first lockdown, we took it off the market. After a lovely holiday there, we realised how much we loved the place and wondered why we’d ever wanted to sell. A year later though, serious health scares made us re-evaluate everything. So we took the practical decision to sell to make our lives simpler and consolidate financially.”

The couple, who live in the village of Mossley just outside Manchester, appointed HomeEspaña and were instantly impressed by how efficient the team were. They were rewarded with an offer from German buyers for €92,000, which included the furniture.

“Alba from HomeEspaña was amazing,” continued Mike. “She did a great promotional video and her excellent marketing was what found us a buyer. We couldn’t fault her communication either – she messaged us personally via WhatsApp when we were back in the UK and kept us updated. Likewise, Michelle in after sales was fantastic, guiding us through the selling process and helping with any issues. When we needed a habitation certificate, she told us not to worry and contacted the relevant people so it was all sorted the next day. She was brilliant at coordinating with our solicitor and assisted us with a currency transfer firm.”

The second home the Middletons enjoyed as a sunny bolt-hole for many years was a one-bedroom linked bungalow in a small complex called Valle del Sol complex in the village of Beniarbeig. It included a kitchen/ diner, living area, bathroom and covered patio area at the back. Part of a block of four, it had use of a well-kept communal area that included a pool and gardens, all benefiting from a stunning mountain backdrop. The couple bought the property off-plan, securing it with a deposit before construction began around 20 years ago and getting the keys a year or two later.

“Actually, my father spotted the development site when it was still just a field!” said Mike. “Back then my parents lived nearby and Dad rang me excitedly from Spain to tell me about it. I flew out immediately, fell in love with the views and we were became one of the first people to reserve a property there – the purchase price then was around €68,000.”

“We went on to have fantastic times there, typically going out five times a year when flights were really cheap. I especially remember sitting outside with a glass of wine during those lovely warm evenings. At the end of the day, it’s given us happy memories and enabled us to pay off our mortgage in the UK and leave a small nest egg. And I can say for certain, if we do decide to buy in Spain again, we’ll definitely be knocking on HomeEspaña’s door.”