Success Story: From Forgotten Paperwork to a Successful Sale

When property owners reach out to us after a long period of frustration, confusion, and silence, it’s often a sign that something has gone seriously wrong. This is exactly what happened with a lovely German couple trying to sell their cortijo.

For more than three years, their home was on the market with another agency. In all that time, they received no visits, no feedback, and no contact. Not even a courtesy call to say, “We’re still working on it.” Just silence.

But beneath the surface, something far more serious was going on.

A Painful Discovery Hidden in the Fine Print

When the couple first contacted Hola Properties, they were tired, understandably disappointed, and close to giving up. They had assumed their property was correctly listed and legally ready for sale—after all, they had paid a gestoría (legal administration firm) back in 2016 to legalise and register the cortijo. The deed of new construction (obra nueva) had been completed and signed.

But during our initial property valuation, we immediately noticed something was off. The deed showed the building was included, but when we pulled an updated nota simple (official land registry record), only the land appeared. The house wasn’t registered.

What had gone wrong?

The Hidden Mistake That Cost Them Years

It turned out that, in 2016, the gestoría had completed the deed—but failed to submit a vital certificate from the town hall. The Land Registry rejected the application. Instead of informing the sellers or correcting the error, the gestoría simply filed the deed away in a drawer. The process was left unfinished.

Worse still, they charged the full amount, never telling the owners that the property was still legally incomplete.

And the sellers? A retired couple in their late 70s, living in Germany, had no idea. They had assumed everything had been handled professionally.

Time Was Running Out
By the time they came to Hola Properties, things were more complicated. Spanish property laws had changed multiple times since 2016. To regularise a property now would mean starting from scratch with a formal AFO application—a time-consuming and costly process.

And they didn’t have time.

The wife’s health had deteriorated. Flying was no longer an option. If they wanted to visit their beloved cortijo, they had to drive across Europe. What they needed most was peace of mind, the ability to sell their property without delay, and the freedom to move on.

Rebuilding Trust—and the Paper Trail

At Hola Properties, we don’t just list homes—we go deeper.

Our agent began investigating the entire paper trail. We worked with the sellers to recover all the documents, uncover the gestoría’s mistake, and piece together what had gone missing back in 2016.

That included obtaining a new georeferenced coordinates certificate, which has become a legal requirement since the earlier process was left incomplete. We guided them through every step, liaising with professionals and handling the bureaucracy on their behalf.

Finally, after eight years of limbo, we were able to complete the registration that had been abandoned in 2016.

A Sale Worth Waiting For

With the paperwork finally resolved, we launched a bespoke marketing campaign, targeting the right buyers, showcasing the lifestyle the property offered, and using professional photography and video.

In just a short time, the property received eight viewings—more than it had in three years with the previous agency. And most importantly, it sold.

But this story isn’t just about the sale. It’s about helping people when others have let them down. It’s about listening, caring, and making sure nothing gets left in a drawer again.

A Message to Sellers in Similar Situations

If your property has been sitting on the market without attention, if you’ve been left in the dark by your agent, or if you’re not sure your documents are even in order—don’t wait until spring. Talk to someone who will actually take care of it.

At Hola Properties, we do more than sell homes. We solve problems. We tell the truth. And we never leave a client behind.

📞 Contact us today for an honest, no-obligation assessment of your property.
Call us on +34 858 215 333 , email: info@holaproperties.com
Or just click here for a call back