So you’ve been thinking of buying a property in Malta? And you’re kind of eyeing the local papers and making a note of all the properties with a Sale notice attached to their front window? Whilst you can traipse around and do it solo, there is a lot to be said for getting an Malta real estate agent on board to help you in the hunt. First things first – get a serious agency and make sure you feel you can communicate with the agent assigned to you.

The agency fee is paid by the seller so the buyer incurs no costs. However you should never take advantage of the estate agent for the simple reason that you may end up the loser if you go it alone or ignore precious advice.

It might sound like agents are there to make a profit out of you, but Maltese property market research has shown that buyers can save up to 10% in total just by using an estate agent to assist them. Why is this? For one thing, serious Malta real estate agencies know the market well and will be able to hone in on your kind of property quicker. This will save you much useless viewing and precious time. Moreover, once you decide on a property, the estate agent can guide you through the ropes, from finding you a reliable architect to provide the go-ahead on the property structure, to acquainting you with a notary, to ironing out nitty-gritty issues with banks as regards loan arrangements.

Some agents even help new buyers decide what sort of budget to allocate for interior finishings and decorations and this is priceless assistance that will help you have a clear-cut idea of all your costings. A Malta Property agent is usually expert at pricing properties correctly so that as soon as you mention the type of property you want and the location, the agent will, more likely than not, be able to guide you on an average price for what you are after.  He/she will know if a price is over the mark or just right for an excellent investment. There are however a number of things to know before you contact the agency:

• Be sure to have a clear idea as to the limitations of your budget, if any.
• Decide what sort of property you want. If you are unsure of the difference between one kind of property and another, ask the agency to show you the difference.
• Be prepared to answer what might seem like a lot of questions – estate agents need information to be able to target key properties that might be suitable for you on all fronts – price, location, number of rooms, open space, views, etc.
• Don’t be offended if you Malta Real Estate agent asks you if you are getting a loan.  many a time, an agent has done a very good job for a customer but then finds out that the customer has not done their homework and can not buy a particular property.  It saves allot of time and disappointment for both ends if you know where you stand before you go out looking.
• Don’t assume anything – if there are things which are unclear, do ask. Agents are used to answering all sorts of questions from concerned would-be buyers.
• Decide how many bedrooms you require.
• Decide what sort of open spaces you need.
• Be flexible in your thinking. People who start out strictly wanting an apartment often end up buying a maisonette, whilst somebody out to buy a terraced house may in the end choose a house of character. It pays to have an open mind because you might find your perfect dream property in the most unlikely locations and in surprisingly unusual forms.

If you don’t like what you’re being shown just say so and the agent will find other alternatives. In the end, the home searching experience should be an enjoyable one, that is made as stress-free as possible by a helpful agent.

To view a list of ideal properties for First Time Buyers in Malta or check out our dedicated Facebook Page for First Time Buyers in Malta on Facebook