Selling property in Portugal: 5 tips for a stress-free sale

Selling a house is a process that for many people can be bureaucratic and quite frankly stressful. Between paperwork and all the legal bits and pieces that need seen to, you'd be forgiven for thinking that selling property in Portugal is complicated, but does this have to be the case? The answer is no. Even if you're a foreigner selling property in Portugal for the first time, the bureaucracy of it all doesn't necessarily have to be stressful. In this article, we bring you 5 tips for a stress-free sale when it comes to the process of selling a house in Portugal and the bureaucracy that comes with it. 

"With several associated bureaucratic tasks and lots of paperwork, the process of selling a house can be a cause of real stress. From getting a property valuation, to the documents required and even signing the deed, there are several stages and procedures to be completed and solved", according to Casavo, an Italian digital platform for the residential market, in a press release. According to the company, these are the five processes involved and to be taken into account when selling a house in Portugal and beyond, and getting your head around is more likely to lead you to a successful sale. 

Understand what the property is worth

The first step to take before going ahead with the sale should be to understand what the value of the property is. How can you do this? To get an idea of the possible value of your home, looking for properties with the same characteristics and in the same area can be a good option. It is also wise to make use of the services of an agent who is expert in this area to obtain an accurate price, while there are also platforms that allow you to get free and instant evaluations, such as idealista's property valuation tool in Portugal. 

Selling on your own or with the help of experts

One you know the value of the property and can set an asking price, it is important to decide if you want to sell the property on your own or with the help of experts in the sector. Keep in mind that selling your property in Portugal with an agent often makes the process easier, as they are experts in the sector and will help you throughout the entire process of the sale. This is especially useful if you are selling property in Portugal as a foreigner and aren't familiar with the system or don't speak the language.

• Check out our guide to how a real estate agent can avoid converting a property purchase or selling property in Portugal into a nightmare 

Advertising the property and managing viewings

If you choose to sell the property by yourself and without the help of an agent, being organised throughout the process will help reduce stress levels. Remember that you will be responsable for the management of contacts, viewings of the property and everything to do with potential buyers. 

Organising the necessary documentation

Before selling your property in Portugal, as the owner, you need to organise all the necessary documentation. These are the main documents you will need when selling property in Portugal: 

• Land Registry Certificate;
• Caderneta Predial Urbana (property identification document in Portugal);
• Plan of the property;
• Energy certificate;
• Housing technical file. 

Remember that in the event that you are not selling the property yourself but are working alongside an agent, support is generally provided in obtaining and managing these documents. For more detailed information about all the documents required for selling property in Portugal, click here. 

Signing contracts and closing the deal

Finally, if there is a buyer who needs to apply for a mortgage or if the deed cannot be signed immediately, the best option is to sign what is known in Portugal as "Contrato de Promessa de Compra e Venda (CPCV)", a type of deposit contract that guarantees the security of the sale. After the CPCV, and when all details are in order, the deed should be completed in the presence of a Notary or at the Land Registry Office.