Buying a property in Cape Town represents a significant investment of time, money and emotion. Whether you are buying the property as your family home, a weekend retreat or purely for property speculation, you of course want to ensure you get the correct property for the correct price and in the correct location.

The below are useful hints and tips to help you achieve your goal.

Buying a property in Cape Town – The correct location
Location, location, location – often quoted as the 3 most important factors to consider when buying a property. Prices and saleability differ literally from street to street in Cape Town and getting the right address can mean significant differences in price, amenities and, importantly, safety.

Take your time to get to know the areas; viewing the area is as important as viewing the house. Estate agents obviously market property, not areas, so we recommend using a buyer’s consultant to assist you in your property search.

Buying a property in Cape Town – The right property
You have chosen the location and are all set to starting viewing properties for sale. Traditionally internet search, newspapers, estate agents and show days prove to be the more common methods used in buying the right property. We recommend your search is extended beyond this.

With estate agents charging very large selling fees of up to 7.5% + VAT of the sale price, more and more property owners look to see if they can achieve a private sale first, meaning property buyers not accessing private sales can miss out not just on quality property but often less expensive due to no agents fees being involved.
Estate agents by the nature of how they are rewarded will always market their own properties more aggressively. Again the result can be the buyer not getting to see the full selection or properties for sale in Cape Town.

Make sure you see as many properties as you need to; it helps ensure your knowledge levels and expands your choice. An independent buyer consultant will assist you with this.

Buying a property in Cape Town – How to formulate your offer to purchase.
Buying a property in many countries only becomes legally binding when transfer or exchange of contracts takes place. It is vitally important to understand that in South Africa buying your property becomes legally binding when an offer to purchase has been signed by both parties. In short, it constitutes the terms and conditions that the purchase will proceed under.

Make sure your solicitor and buyers agent assist you in putting together the offer to purchase. When spending millions of rands on a purchase it is best practise to always get a legal opinion.

Buying a property in Cape Town – What price to pay
With properties literally next door to each other differing greatly in price, how do you know what to offer, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the area? Estate Agents are mandated to get the best price for the seller so asking them what price, would seem a somewhat misguided tactic in negotiations.

That often leaves the purchaser to guess work or flicking through the paper trying to work it out.

Buyer’s agents have extensive knowledge of the market and area allowing them to provide you with good knowledge when formulating a price, They also have access to information on previous houses sold in the area, what prices they were sold for and the building costs.

Sands Home Search are Cape Town's leading property experts for assisting in securing property and guiding you through the property purchasing process.

So how can the buyer be sure they are getting the best possible advice and price?

Many countries now operate with estate agents and buyers/property consultants. This approach means professional representation for both the seller and the buyer.

More and more estate agents in Cape Town now work with buyers consultants as the buyers seek their own independent expertise.

What’s the main difference between a Cape Town estate agent and a buyer’s consultant?

The buyers consultant differs from the estate agent in a number of ways:

Buyers consultants do not market properties (as Estate Agents do) and therefore do not act for the seller’s interest at all.

As they are contracted by the buyer, they represent the buyer’s best interests and professionally negotiate the best terms and conditions for the buyer.

Estate agents will tend to only show you property that they have been mandated to sell; this can reduce a prospective buyer’s choice. A buyer’s agent may access all the properties on the marketplace including ‘off market’ properties.

Estate agents are obliged to get the best possible terms and price for their client – the seller of the property, consultants are to get the best possible price and terms for the buyers – often resulting in a reduction on the property price, meaning the buyer can save considerable amounts of money.


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CAPE TOWN PROPERTY SEARCH ASSISTANCE - ACTING EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PROPERTY BUYERS

Sands Home Search are property search & relocation agents who specialise in finding and acquiring the finest properties for sale throughout the most sought after areas of Cape Town, South Africa for retained private, corporate & international clients.

We specialise in finding the finest property for sale in the most sought after areas of Cape Town including

* The Southern Suburbs (Upper Constantia, Constantia, Constantia Security Estates, Silverhurst Security Estate in Upper Constantia, Stonehurst Estate, Bishopscourt, Claremont, Rondebosch, Upper Kenilworth, Trovato Estate, Tokai, Steenberg Golf Estate, Silvertree Estate, High Constantia Estate, Zwaanswyk, etc) &

* The Atlantic Seaboard (Clifton, V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay, Fresnaye, Llandudno, Cape Town Waterfront, Bantry Bay, Hout Bay, Sea Point, Green Point, DeWaterkant, Higgovale, High Cape, Devils Peak, Tamboerskloof, Zonnebloem, Schotschkloof, etc) &

* The Southern Peninsula (Noordhoek, De Goede Hoop Estate in Noordhoek, Kommetjie, Klein Slangkop in Kommetjie, Kalk Bay, Boulders Beach, etc)

* The Northern Suburbs (Atlantic Beach Estate, Bloubergstrand, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton, Sunset Beach Estate, Sunset Links Estate, etc)

So whether you are looking for a prime main residential property in Cape Town or in one of Cape Town's Security Estates or Golf Estates, a quality Cape Town Guest House/B&B or Holiday Home we can definitely help.

OUR CAPE TOWN PROPERTY BUYERS SERVICE

Sands Home Search provides a highly personal Cape Town Property Search & Home Relocation service, working exclusively for you, the property buyer.

We will find you the perfect home, anywhere in the Cape Town area as quickly as possible whilst relieving you of the frustrations and time-consuming problems associated with house hunting.

Our knowledge of the Cape Town property market means that we can ensure you purchase your new home on the most favourable terms for you.

Our service includes:

* Property Search - identification of suitable properties, pre-screening of properties on your behalf to save wasted journeys and your time

* Arranging viewing itinerary(s) to fit with your busy schedules of properties you select from our pre-screening and accompanied viewings on the day

* Expert Advice - area suitability, advice on value and recent market trends

* Price Negotiation - advice and management of all price negotiations

* Full Management - of the whole process through to legal completion

* One Point of Contact - throughout by a dedicated Area Specialist Agent

In summary,

1. We discuss your brief in detail either through email and/or telephone.

2. Once the brief is decided we commence the search to find a shortlist of properties that either match or closely match your brief.

3. We will discuss feedback on shortlisted properties and agree an itinerary of properties for you to view on your planned visit.

4. We arrange the itinerary of property viewings and will meet you when you come over and show you the properties with each estate agent. During the viewing process we are there to represent you and answer any questions with complete impartiality.

5. Once you wish to make an offer on a property we would do for this for you and advise on the true value and initial offer price.

6. When terms have been finalized we assist with managing the whole buying process through to transfer of ownership/legal completion.

Our clients

50% of our clients are international buyers, whilst, 50% of them are already based in the country.

The common denominator is that our clients are busy, demanding and used to receiving exceptional service. They appreciate that we act exclusively for them, the property buyers and have an impressive track record of securing the finest properties on the most favourable terms to the buyer.

Fees

We charge a success fee of 2.5% of purchase price for any property purchased.

How to instruct us

Therefore should you be interested in instructing us to act for you, we would first require the following from you:-

1. Evidence of your identity (copy of passport/ID and utility bill)

2. Proof of your ability to purchase, as we can only act for buyers who are in a position to immediately purchase the sought after properties that we expect to find you

3. Agreement to our Terms and Conditions of business, including our fees for acting for you. (click here to download a copy of the Terms)

4. Complete and return our Property Search Questionnaire. (click here to download a copy of the Terms)

We are confident that our service could be of great benefit with your planned property purchase and we look forward to discussing further.

If you require impartial advice on acquiring a prime property in Cape Town please contact:

Cape Town office on: 076 222 7518 (+27 76 222 7518)
or
UK Head Office on: +44 (0)1425 462 549.

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Thank you for your interest in our company.