August in Spain

When August arrives there are certain things you should be aware of in Spain. Usually Spain stops for a good two or three hours between two and five o'clock every day. In August traditionally Spain has stopped for the whole month. Getting anything done is hellishly difficult. This year may be a bit different though. I have noticed that this year many shops have put up the closed for the holidays sign but it is just for two weeks. Many estate agents I know are only taking a week off. They used to happily disappear around the World for the month of August missing many clients along the way. Really though if you are trying to work in many areas of Spain during August it is really difficult. Between the times of 2pm and 5pm it can be too hot to really be productive. It is better to work in the morning and evening and that is how the country developed over the centuries as the Spanish people realised that it was a little difficult to work during the hours in the middle of the day. Saying all of that what do you need to know as a property buyer in Spain? Firstly, many lawyers are away and finding one to help you out with any prospective property purchase may be difficult. Secondly, lots of notary offices close too so you will have a limited number to choose from in order to do your powers of attorney, property signings and any other important paperwork. Thirdly, you may struggle to find a translator in August as they too are away. Lastly the majority of estate agents in Spain are still closed for most of the month. Therefore if you see a property from an estate agent's website and ask for more information it may well be that they do not get back to you very quickly Rest assured though that here at Valencia Property we are around because the business is essentially run from a mobile platform. The answers to your queries may well take most than the usual few minutes but you will still get them relatively quickly. Have a good summer.