It’s hard to give a single average timeframe: it depends on many variables. The main factors are the asking price compared to the market, the neighbourhood and demand in the area, the condition of the property (refurbishment, energy certificate), the floor and lift, the marketing strategy (photos, video, reach), having the paperwork ready and the buyer’s circumstances (financing). With a realistic price and an active plan the process speeds up; if any of these factors falls short, it can take longer. The most reliable approach is to value your home with recent comparable data from your area to give you a realistic forecast.

Our agency fees depend on the type of transaction (sale or rental) and the value of the property. We always work with transparent fees agreed in advance with the client, with no hidden costs.

We also only charge once the transaction has been completed successfully, so our interests are aligned with yours.

And we stress it: we DO NOT CHARGE the buyer any additional fee.

When selling a home in Catalonia, as sellers you must allow for the municipal capital gains tax (plusvalía, IIVTNU) if there has been any gain since purchase; if there is no gain the amount payable will be 0, but the transfer must still be reported to the town council.

For income tax (IRPF), the gain is declared in the following year’s tax return, with important exemptions: if the seller is over 65 and sells their main home, the gain is exempt; also, if you reinvest the proceeds in another main home within two years, the gain may be fully or partly exempt.

As for costs, you need the energy performance certificate and a valid habitability certificate (cédula) to advertise and complete the sale. If there is a mortgage, add the cost of cancelling it (fee, notary, land registry and agency).

In Catalonia the purchase, notary, registry and processing costs are usually paid by the buyer, but in some parts of Spain this is negotiable.

Finally, the council will always issue the property tax (IBI) bill for the year of the sale to whoever owns the property on 1 January; in practice, however, it is usually split according to how long each party has the property, following a Supreme Court ruling that sets the precedent for most sales. It may be worth agreeing this in the deposit contract (arras) to avoid any disagreement.

When buying a home you will basically pay either transfer tax (ITP, for resale homes) or VAT + stamp duty (IVA + AJD, for new builds). For resale homes, ITP is set by each region; in Catalonia, for example, the general rate is 10% and it can be reduced to 5% if you are under 35. For new builds you pay VAT (generally 10%, and 4% or 7% for special-regime or public subsidised housing) plus stamp duty on the deed, which in Catalonia is generally 1.5%.

You will also pay the notary fees, the registration of your purchase deed and, if one is used, the processing agency. If you take out a mortgage, you normally pay for the valuation and any arrangement fee, while the bank pays the notary, registry, agency and the stamp duty on the loan under current regulations.

For a detached house, the cost of the building inspection report (ITE) can be paid by either party, depending on what is agreed during negotiation.

If the property is in a block of flats, since it doesn’t depend only on the seller (the owners’ association as a whole is responsible), if there is no ITE report the buyer will need to check for themselves or ask the association about anything that may be of interest.

We give priority to profiles that match your preferences as a landlord, but we always carry out a rigorous screening process to guarantee the tenants’ solvency and reliability. This includes checking income, employment history, stability, references from previous landlords and any record of non-payment. This way we make sure candidates meet your criteria while giving you maximum security in the tenancy.

Yes, we work with exclusive contracts. This lets us focus 100% on marketing your property, investing more resources in marketing, advertising and managing viewings. Exclusivity guarantees a consistent sales strategy, direct and smooth communication, and a single point of contact who defends your interests at all times. This way we optimise the time to sell and aim for the best possible price for your home.

The problem with non-exclusive listings is duplicate adverts, price differences, lack of control over how the property is presented and confusion among buyers. This reduces the sense of seriousness and urgency, and can lengthen the time to sell or lead to offers below the real value.

Although exclusivity lets us offer you the greatest sales potential, if you prefer not to choose it you can still count on our commitment and experience to manage your property.

To find out whether a home is free of charges and debts, you need to request a land registry extract (nota simple) from the Property Registry. It shows any mortgages, seizures or other charges on the property. When we have a property on an exclusive basis, we always request it right at the start to make sure everything is in order to sell. Without exclusivity it is essential that the owner requests it, because there may often be an issue for the agency to resolve.

Rent default insurance is a policy that covers a landlord when a tenant with a contract stops paying. The insurer pays you the unpaid rent (up to a number of months set in the policy, although in some cases it may be until full eviction) and handles the legal defence and eviction: lawyer, court representative and follow-up of the proceedings. It often also includes claiming unpaid utilities, a locksmith or lock change when you recover the home and, in some policies, vandalism damage up to a limit.

Of course: we have agreements with architects to get these documents, which are essential to market a property, as quickly as possible.

Of course: we have agreements with architects to obtain the certificate of fitness as quickly as possible, although an exemption is also possible, since getting it often depends not on one owner but on the whole community. So, if in doubt, it’s always wise to bring in a trusted expert to make sure the home or building you’re buying is in good condition.

Yes: this service is called the CONTROL service, and it’s very new on the market. We’ve been providing it many times over recent months, on very favourable terms. You get the same real estate personal shopper service but at a lower price, since you’ve already found the home, and you still have full support throughout the process: negotiation and supervision right up to signing the public deed before the notary. It will be a great help.