1. Start with your situation
Before thinking about price, be clear on your goal: why you're selling, in what timeframe and with what room to negotiate. A rushed sale is not the same as a patrimonial sale that can wait for the right buyer.
Gather the basic paperwork from the outset: an up-to-date 'nota simple' (Land Registry extract), the cadastral reference, recent IBI (property tax) and community fee receipts, and the energy performance certificate (required to advertise and sell).
2. A realistic valuation is what sells
The costliest mistake is going out overpriced. A property above market burns out: it racks up weeks without viewings, signals that 'something's off' and ends up selling below what it would have fetched with the right price from day one.
A serious valuation weighs three things: the area (Guanarteme, Tafira and Meloneras are not the same), the real condition of the property and current demand. At El Alem we give you a free, no-obligation indicative valuation based on those three factors, not an inflated number to win your listing.
3. Prepare the property before photographing it
The first viewing happens on a phone. A tidy, depersonalised home full of natural light sells sooner and better. Small improvements —paint, minor repairs, removing excess furniture— make a difference without major works.
Professional photography isn't a luxury; it's what makes a buyer book the viewing. On an island with so much light, shooting at the right hour with the terrace or views well captured completely changes the perception.
4. Advertise with strategy, not everywhere
Being on fifty portals doesn't sell more; often it sells worse, because it dilutes the message and multiplies viewings that won't buy. Better a careful presentation, on the right channels, with honest copy that highlights what sets the property apart.
A well-structured sole agency usually aligns interests: the agent truly commits, protects the price and filters for buyers who can actually purchase.
5. Qualify viewings and negotiate with a cool head
Not every viewing is worth it. Qualifying first —is their financing sorted? does the timing fit?— saves everyone time and protects the property from wear.
When offers arrive, having someone negotiate for you avoids emotional decisions. The goal is neither to 'close fast' nor to 'hold out on pride', but to close well.
6. Seller's taxes and costs
As a seller, budget mainly for the 'plusvalía municipal' (municipal tax on the increase in land value) and the capital gain in your IRPF (income tax) if you sell for more than you paid. If you have a mortgage, it will need to be formally cancelled at the Registry.
Rates and reliefs depend on your specific case and current Canary Islands law. Before signing, we explain in clear figures what you actually walk away with, no surprises.
7. From agreement to signing
Once the price is agreed, an 'arras' contract (earnest-money deposit) is signed to reserve the deal and set deadlines. Then the deed is prepared and signed before a notary, with all documentation reviewed.
This is where poor guidance costs money or grief. We coordinate the notary, the formalities and the checks so that signing is the calm step it should be.