Selling your home with Casas Manuel - A complete guide

At Casas Manuel Real Estate, we understand that your decision to buy or sell is more than just a transaction; it's a life moment filled with emotion and expectation. That's why we are dedicated to making the journey as smooth and stress-free as possible, offering expert advice, guidance, and support from start to finish.

Clients often ask, "What exactly will you do for us as our agent?" Our response is simple. At Casas Manuel, expect a professional and dependable service that's unbeatable.

We're big on communication – that's our secret weapon for success. When you visit our offices, you'll meet all of our approachable team members right from the start. That way, even if your go-to person isn't available, there's always someone who gets you and knows which house you're trying to sell.

Here's what we you can expect from us as your estate agent:

A dependable, professional and friendly service
A fully registered and accredited sales team
Multi country exposure via paid for advertisements and overseas property exhibitions
A strong online presence including leading national and international property portals
Ads across various media platforms
Regular updates
Quick feedback after property viewings

At Casas Manuel, we don't just stick to old methods like window displays to sell properties. The real estate industry is always evolving, and we're all about finding fresh ways to attract buyers. In recent times, we've spread our wings at property shows around the globe – places like Iceland's Reykjavik, Sweden's Malmö, Spain's Alicante, Ireland's Dublin, and in the UK, Glasgow, London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Documents Required for Selling Property in Spain

If you are selling a property, you need to provide potential buyers with certain documents:

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) - An EPC is required by law and gives details about the energy efficiency of the property.
Occupancy Certificate (Cédula de Habitabilidad) - This certifies that the property complies with local habitation laws.
Property Deeds (Escritura de Compraventa) - The deed contains the property description, the identity of the owner, and the property's legal history.
Community of Owners Certificate - If the property is part of a community of properties, a certificate from the community president or administrator stating that the previous owner is current with all payments is required.
Utility Bills - Recent utility bills are required in order to change over the utility contracts to the new owners.
Latest IBI Receipt - The 'Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles' is a local property tax. The receipt gives evidence that the taxes are up-to-date and allows the solicitors to calculate the Plus Valia tax.

If you have installed a swimming pool or carried out any extensions to your property, you will also need:

A certified project for pool or extension work carried out by a qualifies architect.
License(s) from your town hall for undertaken work.
Written Authorisation from the president and administration company of your community (where applicable).
Revised Deeds – Any changes made to a property must be documented in the escritura (title deeds) and at the land registry office – if not already done this can generally be done on the day of signing over the property to the new owners. This would need to be confirmed by your solicitor.

Do I Need a Solicitor?

While hiring a solicitor is not compulsory, having one is highly recommended and it will provide peace of mind through every step of the complex transaction process. The solicitor's role is to ensure your interests are protected in what will be one of your major life decisions, and every legal requirement is fulfilled. They can also help prevent any future legal issues arising from the transaction.

Costings to factor in when selling

Agents Commission.
Plus Valia (Tax given to you by your local SUMA office) – A local tax based on the incremental value of the land which the property occupies. Exact amount can be given to you by your local SUMA office.
SUMA must be paid up until the end of the year (A retention will be taken to cover this if needed).
Mortgage cancellation fees – with most banks this will be between 0.5% - 1.5% on the remaining balance of the outstanding mortgage. PLEASE NOTE you must also ensure the mortgage is cancelled at the notary and land registry office, which may cost between 600 Euros to 1000 Euros.
Non-residency tax – for none FISCAL residents in Spain a 3% retention (of the selling price) will be taken upon completion. This is paid directly to the Hacienda (tax authority in Spain). In order to be exempt from this retention you must be a fiscal resident in Spain and provide an up to date RENTA for all parties named on the Escritura. If no monies are owed to the tax authority your fiscal representative/solicitor can apply for a refund post-sale.
Capital Gains Tax: Tax payable on the difference between the current declared price on the escritura and that of the sales price.
Legal Fees

Top 5 Selling Tips!

A Picture Paints a 1000 words – First impressions are important when selling a property. The first point of contact for most buyers is through the website – if your property looks inviting from the pictures it will certainly attract more attention. Try to de-clutter and de-personalise as best you can for when the photographs are taken.
For Sale Sign – We can offer you the very best in terms of advertising but a for sale sign is another major selling tool. If a potential buyer is not actively looking at a website/shop window they may never know that your property is for sale. Whatever you do, do not let people through the door without an appointment made with ourselves – we can vouch for the clients who we bring round to visit the property and have the relevant insurance cover should an accident occur on your property.
Be Ready – Ensure all papers and certificates are in place (and vaild!). In Spain, certain things can take time so make sure you don't risk losing a buyer because you are chasing up paperwork. We have our in-house architect who can offer their services.
Let us do The Selling – Allow us to carry out the property viewings. Our sales staff are experts in their field and know exactly what the buyers want. Allow for the clients to feel relaxed and to have a good look around.
The Price is Right – As a company that has been selling property in Spain since 2001 we can provide you with an accurate and up-to-date market appraisal. It is important to list the property at a realistic price, research suggests that the longer a property is on the market then the less the property will fetch. It's important to get the right balance to achieve the best possible price – always allow for some room for negotiation but not too much that it will over-price the property.

Buying or selling property in Spain involves a significant amount of paperwork and understanding of the legal processes involved. Being knowledgeable about the documents required and engaging the right professionals will ensure that the property transfer happens smoothly and legally.

If you already have appointed a solicitor in Spain, it would be beneficial to utilise their services. In case you do not have a current solicitor, we can connect you with one of our trusted and impartial legal partners.