While I was out in Chania, Crete, I met two utterly charming OGC readers. It was the first day of their holiday on the island and they took the time and trouble to come and discuss with me – and you - their Greek property journey. I have to tell you that there were some very valuable lessons to be learnt - I have changed their names for obvious reasons – read on!

Mary began the tale: “We came out and viewed properties with two agents and, to be fair, there was hardly anything in it. We were buying off-plan and the properties they both showed us were good, and asking prices were the same, so ultimately it came down to service.”

“Yes,” interjected Paddy. “One of the agents knew where everything was going to be in terms of future building on the property, while the other had no idea. She couldn’t tell us where the car park was going to be, she couldn’t tell us where the pool was going to be or how big it was going to be…We didn’t want to end up buying a property overlooking the car park and, as it turned out, that’s exactly what would have happened had we bought through her.” So…one problem avoided.

Mary then went on: “I think our biggest piece of advice would be to find your own risk averse lawyer! Get someone who is recommended to you. We didn’t - our lawyer was recommended by the developer...”

Bingo – exactly what I have been saying for years. My immediate question was if they had then insisted on a recommendation from one of the lawyer’s clients? “No,” admitted Mary. “I knew all this and had read the OGC Greece Buying Guide too…but we just went with it because it was so easy.”

And the most interesting aspect about all this? Mary is a property lawyer herself, a savvy person who freely admits that, although she knew all the checks and balances and had read them all in the guide, she and Paddy fell into the same trap as do many other buyers.

“I did write my list of questions to ask, like who pays the maintenance of the pool etc….But the answer is always don’t worry about it….and you go away saying well, okay…not wanting to sound suspicious or argumentative,”  Mary admitted guiltily.

“And in no way do you feel bamboozled,” added Alan. “You walk away feeling that everything is okay – everything is fine.” And of course if the lawyer works for the developer they are not going to point out things like this. Not that Mary and Paddy said that this was the case, but it is the danger when you employ a lawyer who receives a lot of business from the developer – they are not impartial.”

However, luck was on their side. Paddy explains: “We were fortunate, if you can call it that, because when things started to go wrong, the lawyer’s family were affected as they too had dealings with the same developer.” Quite apart from other difficulties, Mary explained that although they had paid for the property in full, the developers had not paid the IKA and so there was no electricity or water. “Due credit to the lawyer, she didn’t just walk away…she sorted it all out in the end,” added Paddy.

So, lesson learnt. Mary and Paddy agreed that if they should ever buy again, an independent lawyer would be retained and references would be required. As we agreed, British politeness and reticence needs to be left at the door when buying property. Luckily both Mary and Paddy were quick to say that, although it had been a bit of a worry and it had cost them more than they had at first reckoned, they didn’t regret buying their property at all. “We love it; if we had known what we would have to go through we may not have done it – but we are so glad that we did now that it’s all over and we are the proud owners of a lovely home in Crete!”