If you are looking to buy a property abroad then check very carefully both the credentials of any property company that you are dealing with, as well as their fees, to avoid any nasty surprises at any stage of the deal.
Whether it is a Sicily property company or one in the Cote D'Azur, most countries will have their own legislation on what is needed to set up shop as a property agent, so check what accreditation is needed in the country that you are looking to buy in.
In some countries they have to be a registered estate agent so make sure that the company is a legitimate one before you sign up with them – after all they may be processing large sums of your money so you have to trust them one hundred per cent.
Check too what fees are involved, both as a percentage of the property and any extras. You may think that the price of the house or apartment covers their fees but this is not always the case and can put several thousands of pounds on the cost of a property.
You may also think that services such as translating the agreements are included in the price but these may be chargeable extras which you only find out about at the end when you receive the final bill.
