A property sale does not begin when the listing goes live. It begins earlier, when the owner decides how to sell, on what timetable and with what information. In Calafell and Cunit, two homes that appear similar on paper may offer very different experiences because of their exact location, accessibility, condition and features.
These are seven checks I recommend making before marketing a home. They do not replace an individual review of your transaction, but they can help you make more informed decisions and avoid surprises.
1. Be clear about your goal and a realistic timeline
Selling a holiday home with no deadline is different from relying on the proceeds to buy another property. Decide when viewings are possible, when you can hand over the keys and whether furniture, tenants or other commitments need to be considered. An unrealistic timetable can undermine a promising offer.
2. Compare genuinely comparable properties
Another seller's asking price is not evidence of a completed sale. A useful comparison considers floor area, condition, floor level, lift, terraces, parking, orientation and precise neighbourhood. On the coast, intended use matters too: buyers seeking a permanent home may value the railway station and everyday services differently from holiday-home buyers.
Do not set a price solely from the most expensive listings. Build a strategy that considers actual market response and when the asking price or presentation should be reviewed.
3. Check ownership and the Land Registry record
A recent nota simple (informative Land Registry extract) helps confirm the registered owner, property description and possible charges or restrictions. Mortgages, unresolved inheritances, unregistered works or discrepancies in floor area are better investigated early. A nota simple is informative and is not the same as a formal Land Registry certificate.
4. Check the habitation and energy documents
In Catalonia, a valid habitation certificate (cèdula d'habitabilitat) is generally required for transferring and marketing a dwelling, although statutory exceptions may apply and should be examined individually. Homes subject to energy certification also require a valid registered energy performance certificate, and the energy label information must appear in advertising as required by law. Do not leave these documents until completion day.
5. Gather details about community fees and running costs
If the apartment is part of an owners' community, check the status of payments, regular charges, planned works and decisions that could result in extraordinary contributions. Keep the latest IBI property-tax bill, utility details and community documents available so serious buyers can ask informed questions.
6. Make your listing accurate, not exaggerated
A strong presentation should clearly distinguish usable from built floor area, explain which outdoor spaces are for exclusive use, state whether parking or storage is included and accurately describe lift access. Bright photographs help, but not if they hide material defects or add features that do not exist. Trust is built through precise descriptions.
7. Prepare for negotiations before offers arrive
Before accepting a reservation payment or signing an arras agreement, establish what is included, which deadlines are realistic and whether financing is a condition of the sale. Decide how payments will be documented and what the notary will require. Contract terms must reflect the particular transaction rather than a one-size-fits-all template.
My closing advice
If you are selling in Calafell, Segur de Calafell or Cunit, allow time for these checks before the property is advertised. Good preparation does not guarantee a particular price or sale date, but it makes negotiation and communication more transparent.
- Sales objectives, timings and viewing availability defined.
- Price tested against genuinely comparable homes.
- Ownership, charges and possible discrepancies reviewed.
- Habitation and energy documents checked.
- Community fees and other costs identified.
- Listing and photos accurately represent the property.
- Key negotiation and completion terms considered.