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

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.

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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.

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 :
Tel: 076 222 7518
(+27 (0)76 222 7518)

› click here to Register Your South Africa Property Search Requirements

Thank you for your interest in our company.