How to Plan for a Successful Scouting Trip
Still unsure of where to purchase your Portuguese property? Planning a scouting trip to Portugal?
Rafael and I are more than happy to do all of the introduction and the scouting for you when you engage with us, however, if you have the time and resources, taking your own trip may help solidify what are your “nice to have”, “must haves” and “won’t haves”.
Drawing from all of the trips we’ve done over the years for our clients, we came up with a list of what you might want to look into if you do have the chance to come to Portugal for a scouting trip.
Make a list of your deal-breakers and test them out while in Portugal. Are you really bothered by close neighbours? Are older homes less daunting and more charming after you’ve checked some out?
Curate a list of experiences you would like to partake in. Don’t get stressed about house hunting. Get inspired by the glossy travel magazines or maybe use a local guide and spend some time as a tourist. What have your friends and family recommended that you “must do” while in Portugal? This will help you get a sense of popular locations and the type of tourists each area may attract if you are thinking of using your property as an investment.
Sample the local fare and regional specialties. Portugal has very distinct regions in terms of scenery, culture and especially wine and cuisine. Try them all out!
Chat with someone. Talk to the local business owners and ask them about their town.
Be prepared to do the boring stuff too. Getting your NIF or bank account opened are all errands that we can help you with. After signing on with us, we will be able to set you up with a roster of superstar accountants and lawyers for you to meet. They will be able to expedite the process of purchasing a property. Check out our video where we go into detail of what’s needed before buying.
Walk. Take a stroll and purposely choose the longer scenic route, check out the local parks and cultural centres to see what daily local life might be like. Check out your preferred areas at night, during the day, weekdays and weekend.
Shop around the local retail, pet care, pharmacies and grocery stores. Can you find the necessary essentials or suitable substitutes that you are use to back home?
If you need to commute by car or public transit, try out what it’s like to travel during rush hour. Can you handle it? Or is it much better than you are used to?
Wellness and health care facilities isn’t something that’s top of mind typically. Are there specialty services and equipment that you may require? Would language barrier be an issue?
Watch the local news. Even if you don’t know the language (yet), watching the news will give a sense of what’s important to the population across many topics.
Keep in mind taking a quick jaunt to a town, may not be enough time to really soak in the vibe of the place though. This is where Rafael and I come in to help. We have access to data, tools and actual feet-on-the ground mileage all around Portugal, in order to arm you with insights, experience and information. When the time comes to buy, you will know you have made the most informed decision.
Ate ja,
Mia and Rafael