What could we write about our experience in buying a property in Spain from Country Properties Catalyuna (David Suarez) that has not already been written? It is difficult, but as with others, everyone has also had unique experiences. Country Properties Catalyuna is not just an real estate company. David Surez is the personification of Country Properties Catalyuna together with Sandra, Juanito and Manel. Without them, the company would be just another Spanish real estate company with interest in the “bottom line”, along with little interest in customer satisfaction and protection.

We have been very lucky in our Spanish property buying experience.  We researched and concluded that we would buy a property in Aragon. To this end, we telephoned all of the relevant estate agents in the area. Only one, David, arranged that we have suitable, budget accomodation (the house in Horte Sankt Joan) and he arranged  to meet with us on our arrival. Even though we had informed the other estate agents about our schedule, none had time to show us any properties within the dates of our visit. These other agents positively sealed our fate and pushed us in the right direction. In the meantime, we met with David and Juanito, who  set about showing us suitable properties. Juanito’s patience was unbelievable. He even drove us back to see a property, just to show us the way and he often waited patiently in car while David walked with us over the properties.  As northern Europeans, we often felt guilty and could hardly understand their calm attitude and lack of stress. That in itself is quite an experience. Furthermore, during our visit, David met with us almost everyday to discuss our requirements and answer questions. He had undeterred patience. He became our friend in the process and we felt that he had our best interests at heart.

On the other side of the coin, now that we know David, he was taking a personal interest. He was getting to know us – sizing us up to determine if we really would benefit and have the required energy to make a move to Spain. This is an important aspect of David’s philosophy. He was also using his own assessment of our likes, dislikes and requirements in order to show us properties that he determined would be suitable. Yes, “he determined” because he had used his wit and energy to get to know us.  David is a bit of a psychologist. He loves his chosen work. He has a tremendous interest in people and an unbelievable amount of energy. He once told us that he has no need to travel because he meets all cultures in Spain – people who come to buy properties.  This is his interest into which he immerses himself with total committment. What more could one ask of a person?

On the humourous side – David quickly understood that Joy was terrified of mountainous, winding roads, almost impossile to avoid in Teruel. On occasions, when Joy expressed doubt about the chosen property for silly reasons, David consoled her fears by sending her off on severe mountainous excersions or driving her to other houses on winding roads. After each trip, David always asked (tongue in cheek) about the journey, knowing the answer – “I love my chosen land because I can drive there without fear”.  David took some pleasure in the teasing ceremony, but the point was well taken.

Because of David, our property buying in Spain went as smoothly as one would ever want. We made 4 trips to Spain. On the second trip, David showed us the perfect property after which we made the deposit on a property that we had not fully seen. On the third trip, we walked around most of the property with David, Juanito and Manel. On the fourth trip, we bought the property and finally walked around all of the property. So, we bought a property that we had not fully seen, due to our trust in David. We love it and cannot wait to move to the next phase – renovation, water, electricity, etc. – not to mention the move to Spain.

For legal assistance, we hired Ton Batlle of AGL in Tarragona who worked very well with David, both of whom protected our best interest. One could not find a more friendly and capable lawyer, whom we fully reccomend. The purchase went smoothly and David and Ton were extremely diligent in explaining the process, available options and protecting our interests.

The first hurdle is over. We now own a lovely piece of land in Spain with 2 ruined houses, no electricity or water.  This is just the beginning and we know that we will not be able to progress towards the ultimate (the move to Spain, house renovation, water, etc.) without the assistance and friendship of David, Sandra, Juanito and Manel. In that, we are confidently assured that their interest goes beyond simply selling a property and then dropping the customers. Once one has been priviledged to buy a property from David, he will personally ensure that one will also have the necessary assistance to move to that property. Of that, we have no doubt.

We have not just dealt with a real estate company. We have dealt with persons and made permanent friends in Spain. Now, as guru David says –“Its just a question of energy“

Hvad kunne vi skrive om vores erfaringer i at købe en ejendom i Spanien fra Country Properties Catalyuna (David Suarez), som ikke allerede er skrevet? Det er vanskeligt, men som med andre, har alle også haft unikke oplevelser. Country Properties Catalyuna er ikke bare en ejendomsmægler virksomhed. David Surez er personificeringen af Country Properties Catalyuna sammen med Sandra, Juanito og Manel. Uden dem ville selskabet blive bare en anden spansk ejendomsmægler virksomhed med interesse i “bottom line”, sammen med lidt interesse i kundetilfredshed og beskyttelse.

Vi har været meget heldige i vores spanske ejendom købsoplevelse. Vi forsket og konkluderede, at vi ville købe en ejendom i Aragon. Til dette formål, ringede vi alle relevante ejendomsmæglere i området. Kun én, David, arrangeret, at vi har passende, billig overnatning (huset i Horte Sankt Joan), og han aftalt at mødes med os på vores ankomst. Selvom vi havde meddelt de andre ejendomsmæglere om vores tidsplan, havde ingen tid til at vise os ingen ejendommer inden datoerne for vores besøg. Disse andre agenter positivt forseglet vores skæbne og skubbede os i den rigtige retning. I mellemtiden mødte vi med David og Juanito, der satte om at vise os egnede ejendomme. Juanito’s tålmodighed var utroligt. Han selv kørte os tilbage for at se en ejendom, bare for at vise os vejen, og han ofte ventede tålmodigt i bilen, mens David gik med os over ejendomme. Som nordeuropæere, vi ofte følte sig skyldig og kunne næppe forstå deres rolige attitude og manglende stress. Dette i sig selv er noget af en oplevelse. Desuden under vores besøg mødtes David med os næsten hver dag for at diskutere vores krav og besvare spørgsmål. Han havde ufortrødent tålmodighed. Han blev vores ven i processen, og vi følte, at han havde vores bedste interesser på hjerte.

På den anden side af medaljen, at vi nu kender David, han tog en personlig interesse i os. Han var ved at lære os at kende – dimensionering os op at afgøre, om vi virkelig ville gavne og har den nødvendige energi til at gøre et skifte til Spanien. Dette er et vigtigt aspekt af Davids filosofi. Han var også vurdere vores lide, antipatier og krav for at vise os egenskaber, at “han bestemt” ville være passende. Ja, siger vi “han bestemt”, fordi han havde brugt sin humor og energi til at lære os at kende. David er lidt af en psykolog. Han elsker sin udvalgte arbejde. Han har en enorm interesse i mennesker og en utrolig mængde energi. Han har engang fortalt os, at han ikke har behov for at rejse, fordi han møder alle kulturer i Spanien – folk, der kommer til at købe ejendomme. Dette er hans interesse i, som han fordyber sig med totalt engagement. Hvad mere kan man bede om en person?

På den humoristiske side – David hurtigt forstod, at Joy var rædselsslagen for bjergrigt, snoede veje, næsten umuligt at undgå i Teruel. På lejligheder, da Joy udtrykt tvivl om den valgte ejendomme til fjollede årsager David trøstede hende frygt ved at sende hende ud på svær bjergrige udflugter eller kørsel hende til andre huse på snoede veje. Efter hver tur, altid spurgte David (tungen i kinden) om rejsen, at kende svaret – “jeg elsker mine udvalgte land, fordi jeg kan køre der uden frygt”. David tog nogle glæde i drilleri ceremoni, men pointen var godt taget.

På grund af David, gik vores ejendom køb i Spanien så gnidningsløst som man nogensinde ville ønsker. Vi lavede 4 ture til Spanien. På anden tur, viste David os den perfekte ejendom, hvorefter vi gjorde indskud på en ejendom, som vi ikke havde helt set. På tredje tur, gik vi rundt i det meste af ejendommen med David, Juanito og Manel. På fjerde tur, købte vi ejendommen og til sidst gik rundt af ejendommen. Så vi købte en ejendom, som vi ikke havde helt set, på grund af vores tillid til David. Vi elsker det og kan ikke vente med at flytte til den næste fase – renovering, vand, elektricitet, osv. – for ikke at nævne flytningen til Spanien.

For juridisk bistand, lejede vi Ton Batlle af AGL i Tarragona, som arbejdede meget godt med David, som begge er beskyttet vores bedste interesse. Man kunne ikke finde en mere venlig og i stand advokat, som vi fuldt ud anbefale. Køb gik gnidningsløst og David og Ton var meget flittig med at forklare den proces, tilgængelige indstillinger og beskytte vores interesser.

Den første hurdle er overstået. Nu, ejer vi en dejlig stykke jord i Spanien med 2 ødelagte huse, ingen elektricitet eller vand. Dette er kun begyndelsen, og vi ved, at vi ikke vil være i stand til fremskridt mod det endelige (flytning til Spanien, hus renovering, vand osv.) uden bistand og venskab af David, Sandra, Juanito og Manel. I det, er vi selvsikkert sikret, at deres interesse går ud over blot at sælge en ejendom og derefter slippe kunderne. Når man har været priviligeret at købe en ejendom fra David, vil han personligt sørge for, at man også vil have den nødvendige bistand til at flytte til denne ejendom. Af det, har vi ingen tvivl om.

Vi har ikke kun drejede sig om en ejendomsmægler virksomhed. Vi har behandlet med personer og gøres permanent venner i Spanien. Som guruen David siger,“Nu er det bare et spørgsmål om energi”

PS  Vi håber, at vores danske oversættelse er uden alt for mange fejl. Selv om vi er danske, vores moder sprog er engelsk.