The most common complaint I hear from foreign buyers about Gran Canaria estate agents is that they never reply to emails. In this post I explain why this happens all the time and how to work around it.
Why won’t Gran Canaria estate agents answer my emails?
There are two main reasons why many Gran Canaria estate agents don’t answer emails and portal messages…
- The first is that estate agents in Gran Canaria often get a huge number of portal messages and emails from potential buyers. This is especially true for attractive or well-priced property. They also get phone calls and Whatsapp messages from potential buyers who have contacted them directly. It is the direct contacts and phone calls that almost always lead to a sale.
- Many local Gran Canaria agents don’t speak English or have not had much success communicating with foreign buyers. As a consequence they focus on local buyers that they feel comfortable with. Many foreign buyers also have long-term buying plans while local agents focus on selling their property fast.
So how do I communicate with Gran Canaria estate agents?
To communicate directly with a listing agent, call them on the phone rather than sending them a message or email. If there is language barrier, send a Whatsapp message using Google to translate it into Spanish.
Whatsapp might seem a strange way to communicate professionally but ait is completely acceptable in Gran Canaria. In fact, it is the main way local estate agents communicate with each other.
Or, you could avoid Gran Canaria communication problems completely…
Work with one estate agent to avoid communication problems
Instead of contacting lots of estate agents based on the properties they sell, contact one estate agent and use them to communicate with other agents.
Agents love this way of working because they don’t waste time answering emails and doing visits that don’t lead to anything concrete. (Sorry, estate agent joke there).
As a buyer, using one agent to organise visits doesn’t cost you anything as commissions are paid by the seller in Gran Canaria.
You also get an agent who knows what you want and represents your interests during the purchase. The agent also knows that if you buy, they earn a commission.
Just make sure that you pick an experienced agent who speaks Spanish and knows the local market well. Call several and get a feel for how they work and whether they understand what you want.
I’m Laura Leyshon and I help foreign buyers and sellers all over Gran Canaria. If you have any questions about buying or selling a property here, please feel free to send me a message. Better still, give me a call.