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INSPECTION TRIPS I


nspection trips can be a great way of fi nding your ideal property abroad. Being shown around a pre-discussed range of properties over a couple of


days will provide the opportunity to generally familiarise yourself with the locality and ascertain exactly what you might get for your budget. Inspection trips are usually arranged at the point where you have narrowed down your search to a specifi c area, have worked out your target price range, and just need to compare and contrast a range of properties. However since the end of the property boom, the


availability of such trips has decreased and many are more strict than they used to be because many developers simply can’t afford them. In many ways this is a very good thing, as if you


are paying for your own fl ights – budget airlines have made this much more affordable too – you will not feel beholden to someone funding you and you can arrange appointments with multiple agents. It also means that all those out for a free lunch are gone, and the agent knows you are serious about buying. In any case, your fl ights and accommodation will usually be arranged over two or three days and you will be told whether you are expected to pay a contribution, or maybe receive a full refund if you end up purchasing. And do make sure you do agree in advance what you will be seeing – ask for the itinerary and make clear your budget – because ultimately the success of the trip is down to you and how you manage it.


Problems generally arise if buyer and agent have different expectations of the trip so do fi nd out the


proposed schedule before you go. You should take the initiative to research the area through web based buying guides, and talk to people who’ve bought there before, or check out online forums. Discuss a reasonable itinerary that’s going to be a balance between packing so much in that properties become a blur, and seeing too few that you fail to make the most of your time in the area. You will need time to absorb and refl ect on what you have seen before being whisked onto the next one. Also, will the agent be able to speak English? If you are new to an area and require some spare time to look around yourself, make this known but, again, do remember that if someone is paying for you, you will be obliged to give them a reasonable amount of your time.


36 AIPP CONSUMER GUIDE


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