GUIDE on the crucial ‘dos and don’ts’ of property buying has been released to tourists visiting the Bodrum region.

The English-language brochure aims to prevent people falling into the hands of dodgy developers and conmerchants who sell them dreams of second-homes, but instead steal their hard-earned life-savings.

Produced by the Muğla Governorship, Provincial Gendarme Commandership and Estate Agents Association, the brochure carries a wide range of handy hints on property buying. A total of 5,000 leaflets has been distributed in Bodrum and on its Peninsula.

Estate agents association chairman Ziya Ercan said that about three million tourists visited the resorts of Muğla every year, with many people buying and renting property or looking to invest in some other way during the summer period.

Ercan added: “People should not be ripped off, but be guided correctly through the process. This brochure is intended to be a basic guide for all those who want to buy in Turkey.”

Some of the advice given includes:

- Consult an authorized and registered estate agent before buying property.

- Make sure the house you want to buy is registered as a residence within the construction zoning plan.

- Do not buy if the property has no title deeds.

- If the property has a mortgage or any other debt attached to it, do not buy before they are all removed.

- Do not negotiate on a catalogue or model, see the property in real.

- Make sure the person selling the property on behalf of the owner holds a power of attorney issued by Notary.

- The sales contract made at a Notary does not count as title deeds; therefore do not pay before you get the title deeds.

First appeared on Voices Newspaper

June 21th, 2010