Selling your home in Javea: The essential guide (2023)

Would you love nothing more than to sell your home in Javea, but there seems to be no guidance on which documents you need, how to find out the value of your property, how long the whole selling process would take and where to begin?

Selling your home shouldn’t have to be a stressful process, so, the Euro Weekly News has written a guide to alleviate any confusion around how to sell your home in Javea, complete with the best people to accompany you on your journey.

This guide shows you the easiest way to sell your home in Javea (known as Xabia), how to find your property’s worth, the timeframe of making a sale on your property and which documents you will need – as well as an all-important knowledgable estate agent to assist you on your journey.

What is the best way to sell a property in Javea?

Spain is one of the most popular places in the world for expats to buy property in and move to. And with Javea, a small historical town in close proximity to Spain’s Mediterranean coast, with its secluded coves and sandy beaches offering a relaxing atmosphere, it’s not difficult to see why. It is for this reason amongst many others that Javea’s booming business and tourism industry makes it a highly recommended place to invest in property.

However, like with most things in Spain, having a professional to guide you through the process is one of the most important things you need to think about when selling your home.

From dealing with the legal side of things to translating important documents and negotiations, showing potential buyers around your property, helping to ensure that the transaction is seen through to the end and within the time frame that you want, a reputable estate agent is the absolute best way to ensure a smooth and stress-free sale.

What is my property worth in Javea?

As somewhat of an oasis along the Marina Alta Comarca, Javea has been voted environmentally near perfect by the World Health Organisation and enjoys 320 days of sunshine a year. Due to height restrictions, it has avoided the high-rise buildings that other towns in Costa Blanca have been subjected to, making it the perfect place to invest in a property for those looking to split their leisure time between Javea’s old town, the beach and the port.

Two-bedroom apartments usually start at around €200,000 on average. It is possible to get a 3-bedroom villa for €400,000 but on average, villas in Javea can cost anywhere between €1 million and €4 million.

Speak to 5 Real Estate to get an accurate valuation of your property and to move the sale of your home in Javea forward.

How quickly can you sell your property in Javea?

Javea has a huge expat population and is quite cosmopolitan, making it a very attractive place to buy property. The locals’ Valencian dialect makes Javea feel like an authentic Spanish town, but there are also lots of English and German supermarkets, clubs and societies, so a language barrier is less of a worry for potential buyers.

With the help of a good estate agent, your property in Javea will hopefully sell itself once you’ve found your buyer.

The paperwork and process can take some time, however, once these have been completed you can expect to sell your property within around three to four months, depending on the property and your asking price. However, do leave room for negotiation.

What do you have to pay when selling a house in Javea?

1) Plusvalia – sellers have to pay a tax based on the incremental value of the land which the property occupies over the number of years you have been the owner.

2) Community Fees – Make sure your Community Fees are up to date. Usually, you will have to present a Community Certificate to the buyer when signing the Title Deed to prove this.

3) IBI and Utilities – make sure your utility bills are all paid up as these will need to be settled up to the date of sale. You will need to provide the original proof of payment when signing. Sellers have to pay the IBI or council tax for the whole year they are selling.

4) Mortgage Cancellation Fees – Your bank will probably have from a 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent cancellation charge for the balance of your outstanding mortgage.

5) Mortgage Cancellation and Registration Fees at the Notary – In addition to point 4) as the seller, you will have to make sure that your mortgage is cancelled at the Notary and Registry. This may cost anywhere from €600 to €1000 and is an amount that will probably be held by the solicitor to make sure that this is done.

6) Non-Resident Retention 3 per cent – If you are a not a resident of Spain, the buyer of your property will also have to retain 3 per cent of the sales price stated in the “Escritura” (Title Deed) to pay to the Spanish taxman (Hacienda) on your behalf towards your Capital Gains Tax. Fiscal residents do not have any retention made on them, however, they may have to pay tax on the sale the year after when filling in their tax returns.

7) Agents Commission – If you have used an agent to sell your property, you will also have to pay fees to the agent.

8) Legal fees – A good legal office will prepare utility contracts, community charges and “Suma” invoices, speak with the purchaser’s representatives and the Notary, book the Notary appointment and organise all of the related paperwork, go with the seller to the Notary and translate for them, calculate the 3 per cent retention, calculate and advice re Capital Gains Tax and give fiscal representation throughout the selling process.

What documents do you need to sell a house in Javea?

There are a number of necessary documents in order to sell your home in Spain. The best and safest way to ensure that you have everything in order is to sell through an experienced real estate agent who will be able to support and guide you through the whole process. 5 Real Estate is the best in the area to help you to organise the relevant paperwork and to help you on every step of your journey.

The main documents you need may include:

• Preparation of utility contracts, community charge and “Suma” invoices.
• Liaison throughout the transaction with representatives of the Buyer and Notary.
• The organisation of the Notary appointment and all paperwork related to the sale.
• Translation at the Notary.
• Calculation of 3 per cent retention.
• Calculation and advice regarding Capital Gains Tax.
• Fiscal representation throughout the whole process.
• Calculation of Goodwill and a letter of “Good Standing” with your community fees from the administration of your community.

Top tips on preparing your home for the market

Remember, potential buyers are seeking an aspirational lifestyle – somewhere to relax and really enjoy life. It is important to capture buyers’ imaginations from the first time they see the property on the internet to the moment they walk through the door. We have all been to property viewings where we have imagined ourselves living in that home as soon as we step in the door – and the same goes for those properties that we decide we don’t like once we have viewed it in person! So, what are some top tips for preparing your property for the housing market?

• Give everywhere a quick coat of paint –  nothing says a badly maintained property like peeling paint!
• Show off your assets! If you have beautiful flooring, show it off by removing any rugs or runners. If you have a stunning fireplace, don’t clutter it with ornaments or picture frames. Let your assets stand out!
• You are selling a lifestyle – so show it off! Make sure your outdoor space looks immaculate (this is important for the Costa Blanca as so much time is spent outside in the beautiful weather). Make sure all of your plants are watered, the furniture is clean, and put lanterns or lights outside. For marketing photos, staging the garden or dining area is a great idea to suggest an aspirational lifestyle potential buyers can imagine themselves living!
• Remove clutter. Cut down on your photographs and personal items. Thin out bookshelves and other shelving, particularly top unit shelving as it will give the illusion of higher ceilings.
• Keep it fresh by placing fragranced diffusers, and candles in the bathroom. Use light, spring scents. Use cling film over plug holes to protect against any stale drain smells which tend to build when the property is empty, it really works! For the marketing photos, remove any cleaning products and only leave high-end cosmetics out on show.
• It is very difficult to maintain fresh flowers in a property you’re not currently living in. Invest in some good-quality fake flowers such as lilies or white orchids.
• Avoid strong colours, heavy patterns and fabrics. Keep the decor as simple as possible and try to remove any dark furniture. Freshen the place up with some neutral-coloured cushions or light throws.
• Mirrors are really great for creating the illusion of space and light. If you have dark areas in any rooms – hang a mirror, not a photo.
• To avoid white kitchens looking bland, add pots of artificial herbs, and glass jars of coloured pasta or lentils on surfaces. These also photograph well.
• Finally, make sure you are 100 per cent satisfied with your marketing photos – the crucial first step to getting those viewings!

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories. Remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.