The story of A. and B. or how to buy an apartment without ever seeing it... The situation may sound familiar because a few years ago I also had a client who bought a house in Umbria without going to see it in person. But the story of A and B is different. Because it starts with an email from a couple that has their eye on an apartment through a 'real estate agent', but they don't feel completely sure about the situation and ask me to investigate a number of things. Corona throws a spanner in the works in the sense that they really can't come to visit the apartment.

The very first thing I checked is of course the broker. But the lady in question is not registered anywhere, has no  site of her own and I think that is a bad sign. The apartment also appears to be for sale with an official broker in Ancona, but for a different price. Now that in itself is not so exceptional. Houses can be for sale with several real estate agents and they are often not all informed when the owners decide on a price reduction.

Together we decided not to contact the lady who pretended to be a real estate agent  and to turn to the regular real estate agent. We are talking about an apartment in 'condominio', which means that we are also dealing with an Association of Owners. And I have no experience with that. In order to protect the interests of the customers as best as possible, I advised them to engage Gabriella Tombolesi. No sooner said than done. Gabriella contacted the selling broker she already knew and we went to Osimo to view the apartment together with the customers in the Netherlands via a live video connection. In addition to the viewing via live connection, we took photos, made a separate video and wrote our findings in a long email. We then applied this method again in another purchase that could be called: The story of L. and S.

Based on this information, they made a written offer. We discussed several times via video call and in the end it came to an accepted offer and we were able to schedule the notary deed. They came to Italy and saw the apartment for the first time one day before the deed was due. That was actually an exciting moment for everyone. But they had prepared themselves so well mentally and had chosen this apartment not only with their heart, but also very rationally: it met the requirements they had set beforehand in practical terms.

It is a new way of working and of course has grown so much due to the difficult circumstances related to Corona. But even if we go back to 'normal', the video calls with future buyers will be a permanent part of our working method. And rightly so, because there is no better way to immediately build a relationship with customers, to gain mutual trust and to exchange a lot of information quickly.

A. and B. are the new owners of an apartment in Osimo, they have exactly what they wanted: a spacious and bright apartment, the historic center around the corner, the bus stop in front of the door and an amazing view of the hills.