Putting Together the Right Team in Selling and Buying A House: Part 2

We had no intention of buying a home in Costa Rica when we visited in late October.  We were here to check out how we could handle the high humidity in rainy season. We did think it would be useful to get a sense of the real estate market with the thought we might buy at a later date, and to get to know the different neighborhoods in the community of Atenas where we thought we might like to live, so we reached out to Marian Veltman to show us around.  We had rented a house that was managed by the company she is connected with. In fact, her husband had picked us up at the airport and when I asked him about Marian showing us around, he commented, “She won’t just sell you a house, she will make sure you are really settled in it and know your way around the community.”  Hum, I thought, that is an interesting comment…

So Murray and I began going out with Marian and getting to know the different neighborhoods.  We saw lots of homes that didn’t interest us.  As we went around, I was impressed that Marian was listening and paying attention to our interests.  Murray really loves his swimming workout,  and finding a house with either a large enough pool or easy access to a neighborhood pool was taken very seriously.  When we heard about a community that was over a half-hour drive away and where Marian had a house listed, she even enthusiastically contacted another real estate person to make sure we could see a second available house in the area and drove us down.  That was a fairly challenging drive, especially when we got near the community and drove a very narrow, rough, dirt road.  But we didn’t like either house.

And then one day when we were looking at homes, we drove up a very lovely driveway to a house that we both loved and everything changed!

For us and our needs this house really stood out! Now we began to think differently.  We calculated our budget and put in an offer based on what we could afford, knowing that it is much easier to buy in Costa Rica than to sell.  We learned more about closing and the taxes you have to pay along with lawyer fees in Costa Rica.  The closing costs are actually higher than in the US. We took all these costs into account.  Marian was respectful of our thinking, not pushing us to go higher in any way, which we really appreciated.  It took a bit of negotiating and we liked the very personal way she worked with us and the seller, and we came to an agreement which was in our budget.  So this stage of getting an offer accepted was complete and it had all been extremely positive, working with a very professional, knowledgeable person who had lots of energy and positive outlook.  When we left to go back to the US, she said she would be at the airport to pick us up when we returned to Costa Rica.

And 2 ½ months later she indeed was there, along with Piet, one of the property managers whom we had also met.  We indeed needed two cars for our 8 very large bags and 4 additional carry ons!  (We decided not to send a container but to take only what we could fit into suitcases. We were flying Southwest, which allows you to check 2 bags each, along with paying for extra bags and overweight.  It was well worth it to have our stuff with us right away.)

Three days later, we closed on the house.  Marian had carefully prepared a list of useful numbers for us and promised to take us shopping the next day.  In the meantime (and over the next few days), we enjoyed some wonderful pastries that were a gift from her.

Bright and early the next morning, Marian picked us up and we spent all day shopping, going from one store to another to make sure we had the basics to get started in the new house!  Beds for all the bedrooms, a sofa and a TV for the living room, pots and pans for the kitchen, dishes and glasses and on and on went the list.  By the end of the day we had all the basics that we would need!  She promised to take us again.  We were deeply grateful for her help.  It didn’t end there.

Among the many challenging things for new expats is banking.  When we had gone to contract on the house and expressed some of our concerns about how we would function in a new country, our lawyer had said that his secretary would help us set up a bank account. She did, and she set up some of the bills, like electricity and phone, so they would be paid automatically.

Other bills, like our homeowner’s fees and water bill, would have to be paid differently and not online. Until one has some form of residency here, banking is limited.  I found myself very overwhelmed about how to pay the bills at another bank.  Marian and I had emailed back and forth and we had planned that we would do another shopping trip together.  When she picked me up I expressed my concern about paying these bills and so we decided to stop at the bank where they could be paid and she could show me how.  It ended up being very easy and I was so excited and relieved that I just wanted to hug her and do a dance of joy!!  The transition was getting easier, thanks to her generous help. 

Among the things she knew I was looking for was an inexpensive coffee table.  A few days later Marian texted to say she thought she had found one when she was out shopping.  She sent us a picture and we said “Yes! Buy it!”  She even had it assembled for us.  It works perfectly in our living room.

And of course she knows the local vendors and how and where to get things.  She helped Murray get his cell phone.  She recommended someone to upholster the well-worn dining room chairs. (The previous owner had agreed to leave a few things such as the dining room table and chairs for us.)  She is very fluent in both English and Spanish and that makes it very easy for her to help those of us who have very limited Spanish. 

I’m used to being in charge. I am learning to ask for lots of help as we make this transition to a new country.  We feel so fortunate to have the help of Marian and indeed the comment that her husband made about her not just selling us a house but also helping us to adjust and become a part of this new community is very true!

More lessons learned.  When you find the right person, welcome them into your life, don’t be afraid to ask for help and most important let them know how grateful you are for their help. A deep bow of gratitude and thanks to Marian Veltman.

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