Selling your Property

Selling procedures are extremely simple and safe. Once you have found a buyer for your property and sale price, terms and conditions have been agreed upon, you sign a Promise of Sale Agreement with the buyer. This agreement, which is drawn up by the Notary, binds both parties until the signing of the final deed of sale.

On signing the Preliminary Agreement a 10% deposit, on account of the price, is normally lodged with the Notary or the Estate Agent by the buyers. This deposit will be forfeited in your favour should the buyer fail to sign the final deed for no valid reason at law.

The term of validity of the agreement is agreed between the parties, however, usually agreements are valid for three months. During this period, the Notary will register the Preliminary Agreement in terms of law, carry out searches into the title and apply for any permits if necessary.

There are no restrictions on owners to sell their property at any price. Mainly in the case of foreign nationals, the entire sale price including sale proceeds of movables may be repatriated abroad, in which case, the Notary would apply for clearance from the local tax authorities, prior to signing the final deed of sale.

What we offer 

Listing with move2Gozo will ensure we advertise your property in the best manner, including

• Professionally designed property listing pages including detailed description, features, amenities, pricing etc.
• Up to 24 photos per property with captions
• Automatic translation of website into a range of popular languages
• Online marketing through a variety of means including online adverts, social networks, direct mailshots,etc.
• We discuss client buyer requirements in detail to understand our brief.
• Where possible we give you maximum notice of a pending visit to allow you to present the property and so as not to impinge on your privacy. For planned client visits from abroad this is usually a week, but may be shorter if the brief or circumstances change.  TWe cannot guarantee sufficient advance notice should a potntial buyer cold call us wishing to view in a limited timeframe. 
• All visits are accompanied without exception and we make regular buyer follow ups. 
• Client feedback reports are provided by email and/or phone.
• Seller assistance and support from initial Offer to Contract Completion.  

We help guide you all the way from valuing and marketing your property online, through to a successful completion including assistance with any forms, notaries, and utilities termination and transfer. 

What we don't do

• Bring along clients whose brief (to us) does not sufficiently match the property on offer.  Client briefings due however change, and/or may not be so specific.  If this is the case then we will inform you and discusss a potential viewing.
• Turn up un-announced, unless it is only to view the exterior of the property prior to a planned viewing.

Service Commission rates

Typically Open Agency marketing rates in Malta are 5% plus VAT, and Sole Agency rates are 3.5% plus VAT.

For private/individual  residences/immovable property we charge 3.5% plus VAT for Open Agency marketing of your property.  We do not offer Sole Agency Terms, but see our alternative approach further on.

For larger Development projects we charge the standard Malta Open Agency rate of 5%.  Developments are marketed differently and require significantly more effort.   In all cases we do not charge any fees if a preliminary or final contract has not been signed.

In Malta Property owner/sellers either contract exclusively with ONE agent for a set period of time, or they have an Open agency agreement (most common), meaning the Owner/Seller can contract separately with as many other agents as they wish.  There are disadvantages to this mode of working for the Sellers, which also indirectly impacts the Buyers. 

Each agency is responsible for producing its own marketing materials, sending in photographers and/or agents to the property to photograph it, write up descriptions and prepare and upload/print them.  For Open agencies this means that the seller has to accommodate many sets of photographers, typically from 3-5 agencies, taking up their precious time and invading their privacy.  The results are inherently inconsistent, and different agents may have differeing prices, information and quality / standard of photographic representation of the property.  

Why are agency rates higher than in other countries?

It depends on which country you are referring to. In the UK rates are lower. In the USA and France the rates are similar or higher.  In Malta, anyone (off the street) who introduces a buyer to a seller has a legal right to 1% of the final sale transaction value from each party.  They do not need to do anything over and above the introduction for this entitlement, which can also leave the client exposed.   Agents on the other hand spend significant time and effort preparing marketing materials, photography, back-office work and have associated marketing and office expenses on top to cover.   Registered Agencies typically offer a much more detailed service as well as help with other aspects of a sale or purchase.  With move2Gozo we provide support and advice throught the process and adhere to high standards and conduct guidelines befitting our professional position.   

move2Gozo multiple listings service

Our alternative approach to marketing.  With this exclusive service we turn this traditional Malta marketing approach totally on its head by also offering  sellers a multiple listings service, more akin to the USA Realty Agency approach to property marketing.  

By contracting exclusively with us, we actually increase your marketing reach, rather than limiting your reach and marketing to just one agent, as the standard system in Malta currently operates.  

However the benefits of this service to both you as the seller, and also to the buyer is unique and significant.   How does this work? See the next section.  

Multiple Listings Service

How does this work?

First of all, we prepare all the online marketing materials, write ups, and professional photography.  We ensure all selected agencies who work with us portray exactly the same information that we have prepared.   The Marketing message is CONSISTENT. Also the Price is CONSISTENT

By managing and accompanying all viewings ourselves, in tandem with any other agents marketing the property through us, we totally eliminate de-ja-vue experiencing by buyers, and equally ensure that owners do not get repeat viewings by the same buyers from multiple agencies.  This means we do not waste your time or that of the buyers unnecessarily. It also means that owners can have several agents marketing their property without having to cut and provide keys for each and every agent.    

Why would other agents work with us? 

Well, for starters, they do not need to do any of the preparatory work with regards preparing all the marketing materials to a professional standard.  This includes all the photography, property descriptions and related information necessary for uploading onto their websites.  Typically this work may involve 2, 3 or more people from each agency.  They will obviously view the property (in fact we insist on this) to familiarise themselves with the property and meet the owner(s) if in Gozo.   We do all the work necessary from offer to sale on behalf of the owners and liase with the other agents with their buyers,or directly to the buyers if through us to ensure a smooth transaction through to completion.  

We have build good relations with a range of selected agencies, including at least one of the main larger ones, who can see the benefits to this mode of working in a collaborative way.  We look to encourage more and more agencies to consider this model and mode of working for the betterment of the real Estate market, owners and potential buyers.

Additional Services 

Photo Service 

We put ag reat deal of focus and effort on this area as photos sell a property. A clients first impression is a lasting one.   Display your property in an attractive manner from the start.  We can take additional photos of your property and optimise them for web viewing.  Photos taken for our standard listings are not charged for.   Should a client wish to have larger format images or separate advertising materials prepared then this will be priced accordingly. 

Virtual Tours 

We offer online virtual tours. This is a separately chargeable service.

Currency Transfers

We do not offer this service ourselves but have very good relationships with the local banks. We have also partnered up with Currency Specialists who can provide you with free advice as well as spot rates should you be in a position to make a transfer. 

Property Preparation Tips

Properly preparing your property for potential buyers can make the difference between a quick sale at a good price and a difficult sale with price reductions.

Be objective. Buyers go by what they see, so look at your property through a buyer's eyes.  Understand its strengths and weaknesses.  A clean, orderly house inspires confidence and sells more easily. If needed, invite a few of your friends over, take them through your home and ask them to make comments on the condition of your property.

Understand, too, that many potential buyers take a look at your property from the outside, without even contacting you. It's your home's ''curb appeal'' that attracts visitors first.

Here is a list of things to consider to ensure that your house makes a "buy me" impression.

Exterior

A well-maintained garden and/or courtyard

• Clear the paths
• Trim the shrubs and trees, if any.
• Weed the flower beds.
• Remove anything cluttering up the yard.
• Clean the pool, garden furniture, BBQ, garbage can, etc

The interior

• Clean the house thoroughly, particularly the kitchen, the bathrooms, the windows and the blinds.
• Get rid of any useless items cluttering up storage space.  
• Ideally remove personal items and also any items of value (for security)
• Give the walls a fresh coat of paint (if painted). A coat of white matte makes rooms look larger and brighter, and eliminates smoke and pet odours.
• Light the rooms to enhance their appearance.
• Make sure that everything is in working order in the house (toilets, doorbell, heating, air conditioner, etc.).
• Don't forget: the smell of cigarettes can turn even other smokers off. 

Making sure the property and any amenities are in good shape doesn't increase the value, but it does consolidate it. After all, a buyer expects a working water heater and a watertight roof.