Our Shortlist Service

Most of our clients have been to Cyprus at least once, and have a reasonable idea of what they are looking for, and of course know their budget and timescale. As a result, they give us a fairly specific ‘brief’ from which we can draw up a list of several suitable sites or properties which we know come pretty close to fulfilling all their requirements.Others, however, give us a more general brief, e.g. ‘Paphos, Polis or anywhere in between’, and leave it to us to suggest some suitable properties. This is fine, but before we go to work, we need to have the following minimum information from all enquirers: 

• Budget (don’t forget to allow for the conversion from Cyprus Pounds to Sterling)

• Timescale – please also read the ‘Viewing’ section below, and allow 12 months if you want a completely free choice.

• Preferred area

• Proximity to shops, restaurants etc (e.g. walking distance?)

• Type of property

• Minimum number of bedrooms

• Private pool, communal pool, no pool, or ‘doesn’t matter’.

Obviously, you may not have strong feelings about some of these, but if this is the case, please tell us.The biggest single thing to avoid is what we call ‘burnout’, where you undertake to look at so many places that you end up confused and stressed. In fact, we regularly receive enquiries from people who have just returned from Cyprus, having gone out with the express intention of selecting a property, but have returned with a headache! Whilst a natural inclination might be to look at every possible option, the reality shows that this is usually counter-productive.Instead, let us take all the hassle and legwork out of the selection process by drawing up a shortlist before you travel, rather than arriving ‘cold’ and embarking on a frenzied mission to see anything and everything, most of which will not fulfil your criteria anyway.

Even when we have drawn up a shortlist for you, we will continue to apply all newly available properties to your list of preferences, and add to your shortlist those that apply. You simply could not apply such a degree of selectivity and refinement if you tried to do this yourself. For example, we know which developers build which types of properties in which areas – just knowing this would save you several days of searching, before you even began to think about a shortlist. Viewing When contemplating a property in Cyprus, the first thing you need to do is cast away your preconceptions about how we do things in the UK, and take on board a whole new mindset. In particular, it is very unlikely that you are going to actually see and walk around the property you’re interested in, unless of course you’re looking at a resale property. Most developers only progress the properties to completion once they are sold, so that clients can be given a choice of kitchen units, tiles etc. The ‘show house’ concept does exist in Cyprus, but this is the exception not the rule.

It is much more likely that you will be shown previously completed projects by the same developer. If you’re looking for something a little more personalised and in a location that still has something of Cyprus in it, the likelihood will be that it is a project by a smaller developer who announces the scheme and issues plans, specifications and prices, and invites enquiries. In most cases you will be able to look at previous completed projects so that you can assess the quality, and the big advantage you have is that you will be able to personalise your new home. In the case of apartments and townhouses, there will be a choice of finishes for the kitchen and bathroom, floor and wall tiles etc. With a villa, you will in some cases even be able to make changes to the size and layout of certain rooms, the shape and size of the pool, and so on.This is not to say that some developers, as in the UK, don’t build speculatively, i.e. embark on a project before selling anything ‘from plan’. In such cases, the nearer to the completion date it is, the less opportunity you will have to make any changes or choices – even if the bathroom suite and tiles haven’t been fitted, the developer may well have already bought them in or ordered them, for example.

You may also be ‘pipped at the post’ by someone who travels out to Cyprus before you. What this all boils down to is timescale – generally speaking, you need to allow a longer ‘lead’ period than you would in the UK, and you need to be prepared to ‘buy from plan’ if you want the maximum amount of choice and flexibility. Generally speaking, therefore, it is advisable to work at least 12 months ahead of your expected occupancy date. We receive enquiries from clients who are looking for properties that will be ready next summer (2007), and they plan to go out to Cyprus in March/April to see what’s available. Unfortunately, unless they are prepared to work from a very restricted choice, the main availability is going to be for the following summer (2008), at prices that will probably be at least 20%, and with their first choice sites sold. And, if they’re looking for a private villa with some degree of customisation, the minimum building period to allow is 12 months.If, however, you do want something to move into as soon as possible, we will draw up a shortlist of properties which are nearing completionYou may, of course, think that this is all ‘salesman’s talk’, aimed at rushing you into a decision. Only you can be the judge of that: have a look at the amount of free information and advice on this website, the range of properties and developers, our enthusiasm and love of Cyprus.

We know the market, and we know the trends: demand is increasing. We don’t have to ‘push’ anything because the demand is driving the sales. We just want you to enjoy the property of your choice, not have second or third best because you left it too late.So, have a good browse around the site, then contact us with your requirements, either specific properties shown here, or a shortlist specification as shown above – we always have properties ‘in the pipeline’, and we’re confident that we’ll find just the place for you, even if it is not listed here.