If a picture is worth a thousand words… a viewing trip is worth a thousand times more. It’s important to come see a home in person if you’re seriously considering buying a home in Greece. In this article, we will describe why and how to schedule a viewing trip to Greece, and some helpful tips for making a viewing trip a success.
Why Organize a Viewing Trip to Greece?
Seeing pictures or even a video of a home in Greece are valuable, but nothing compares to visiting the home in person. The smells, sounds, and sights will help you know if it’s the right home for you. Plus, you get to enjoy some vacation time in Greece!
Viewing trips are also valuable to find out what you do and don’t like about certain homes in Greece. You may fall in love with a small Greek village. You may find that you want a supermarket within walking distance. You may learn that a home with a sea view is an absolute must-have for you. You may find after taking a brief excursion to the south of Crete that it is more attractive to you when compared to the north.
5 Tips for Your Viewing Trip to Greece
1. Pick the Right Time to Visit
You can visit Greece for a viewing trip in any season. If you choose to visit in the summer, you will find Greece at the height of its tourist season. June to August are the busiest months (and the hottest!). The positive of visiting at this time is that there are more flights. If you plan to use your home in Greece as a second home or a vacation home, this may be the time of year you plan to visit in the future.
Visiting in the off-season in Greece has its perks as well. If you visit outside of the tourist season, you won’t have crowds, and you will have less competition to see the properties. It will be quieter and you may have more leverage in negotiations. On the downside, you may have fewer flights from your home country, and the quieter rhythm of the winter won’t give you an idea of what the area is like in peak months.
2. Use a Real Estate Agent
The most popular way to go on a viewing trip is to work with a real estate agent. Working with a real estate agent is advised because of their localized knowledge of the Greek market.
They may have insight into how many homes you can view in the time that you have. Agents can also help you see a variety of homes in one area, from new developments to traditional homes, and more. Once they have an insight in your needs, they might be able to propose properties that you hadn’t thought of. Remember: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, that’s what the agent is there for!
3. Take Notes
Trips to view property can go by very quickly. There’s a lot to take in, and if you don’t take notes down—trust us—it can be difficult to separate one home from another! With permission, it’s useful to take photos during your visit. It is also advised to take someone with you. It can be helpful to get honest feedback from a friend or family member – someone who can offer a second opinion.
4. Take a Moment to Breathe
The decision to buy a home in Greece is made by both the head and the heart. The considerations of finances, location, accessibility, and year of construction are all relevant to your decision.
Beyond these factors, we recommend taking some time to sit quietly in any home you are seriously considering buying. Ideally, this is without conversation and without any real estate agent in the room. It is a time for you to be alone with your thoughts. Imagine the home as your own, to see if the “feel” of the house is right for you.
5. Sign a Power of Attorney
If you enjoy your viewing trip in Greece, there’s one more stop you should make before returning home. No, it’s not the beach… (although that should be on your agenda as well). Your trip to view homes in Greece may be a good opportunity to sign a Power of Attorney. The Power of Attorney (POA) is a key step in the process of buying a house in Greece.
With a POA, your lawyer can represent you throughout the entire purchase process and take any necessary actions on your behalf, even when you’re not in Greece. For example, your lawyer will be able to obtain a Greek Tax Number and sign the final contract on your behalf.
It’s helpful to sign a POA while physically in Greece (instead of waiting before you return home) because in Greece, you can sign a POA at any local Public Notary Office. In your home country, you can most likely only do it at the Greek Consulate. Also, it is usually more expensive in your home country than in Greece.
Are Viewing Trips for Everyone?
While we highly recommend visiting a property in Greece before buying, we recognize that it may be difficult for some to make the journey to Greece, either because of the long distance, a busy work schedule, or personal reasons. Some people who want to buy a home in Greece as an investment may choose to buy a home without seeing it, because they don’t plan to use the home personally. For these people, a virtual viewing can be a good alternative.
