About Galiciaproperty.net
If you are contemplating investing in an overseas property it is important that you know as much as possible about the company in which you will be entrusting your faith and "house hunting" aspirations. In order to assure you of our integrity, knowledge, business acumen and experience of the Galician property market, we have included the following information about GaliciaProperty.net and the people who work within it.
Who we are
GaliciaProperty.net is owned and managed by husband and wife team Maria and Martin and is based in Galicia. Further members of staff include a part time administrator in the UK (Alison) and a part time employee in Galicia (Jo). Our business CV's are outlined below.
About Maria - skills, responsibilities and background
Personal background and language skills
- Maria was born in la Coruna province in Galicia, but moved to England with her family as a child. The family always spoke Spanish or Gallego (the regional Galician tongue) in the home and Maria regularly returned to Spain to see family and friends. Maria speaks and writes English, Spanish (Castillano) and Galician (Gallego).
Relevant career highlights
- Maria started her career as an estate agent in Whetstone (north London) where she sold a vast array of properties ranging from tiny apartments to mansion proportioned residences. The latter in the elite district of Totteridge.
From there she migrated her role to a London firm of property managers and surveyors. This position saw her managing business complexes on behalf of a number of different clients with her responsibilities covering all aspects of building maintenance and upkeep.
In the mid 1990's Maria moved to the north of England where she became the Building Facilities manager for a leading agency. Her employer's office encompassed an 1840's grade one listed mansion house for which she was responsible. This building required ongoing renovation and refurbishment and it saw Maria dealing with a never ending procession of specialist contractors, local authority departments and representatives of various heritage groups. Its maintenance required project management skills of the highest and most critically scrutinized standard.
Put simply, Maria became an expert in the sympathetic renovation and maintenance of old buildings – and of course the appointment, organisation and coordination of specialist contractors to perform the work.
Maria is also a graduate of the CIPD.
GaliciaProperty.net Responsibilities
- Within GaliciaProperty.net, Maria has sole responsibility for all of the company's interactions with Spanish speaking organisations, local authorities, builders, contractors, rental agents, and our Spanish partner inmobiliarias.
- Maria acts as an intermediary in any situation requiring multiple language skills, or interactions that assist our clients with third party arrangements, e.g. with banks and government agencies etc.
- If you buy a property with us, Maria will accompany you when you meet with the actuary and vendor to complete your property purchase. (Unlike the UK, this is a meeting at which you must be present and it will be conducted in Spanish or Gallego).
About Martin - skills, responsibilities and background
Personal background and language skills
- Martin was born and educated in England and moved to Galicia when GaliciaProperty.net was established. He speaks English and some Spanish.
Relevant career highlights
- Martin accrued over 20 years experience working in the construction industry in a variety of managerial and technical positions. He has had “hands on” experience of contract managing building projects ranging from housing developments to office complexes - many with tender values exceeding tens of millions of pounds.
During this time Martin was employed by companies like Shepherd Construction, Trollope and Colls, Faircloughs (today called AMEC) and Armitage Brick.
Martin's responsibilities have included everything from project evaluation and tender estimating, to final project delivery and he is accustomed to being governed by a tight budget.
Martin has also worked as an independent property surveyor producing evaluation reports in cases where an initial property survey prompted the mortgage lender to request a specialist survey.
Martin holds a BSC (hons) in Building and an MSc in Software Development.
GaliciaProperty.net Responsibilities
- Within GaliciaProperty.net, Martin manages the website, all of the property updates and additions, and (usually) all initial client communications by email.
- Where necessary, Martin acts as the intermediary between our clients and their appointed local property conveyance solicitor.
- When we project manage a renovation or refurbishment, Martin is responsible for all e-updates and communications with our clients once they are no longer in Galicia.
Joint responsibilities - Maria and Martin
Either Martin or Maria will:
- Arrange to meet and greet you (usually at your arrival airport) and then show you a collection of properties meeting your pre-specified criteria.
- Act as your project contact and coordinator if you choose to renovate your new home with GaliciaProperty.net.
- Assist you with any other services or requirements connected with your property or move to Galicia.
With any or all of the above, we aim to ensure that you have a single 24/7 contact with whom you can develop a contractual relationship and ultimately a lasting friendship.
About Alison and Jo
GaliciaProperty.net Responsibilities
- Jo is based in Galicia and helps us out at busy times, assisting us with everything from admin and emails to showing properties. Jo speaks English, Spanish and some Gallego and she can also offer a good perspective on life in Galicia as experienced by an American national.
Alison deals with any communication, paperwork, or admin that is more easily resolved in the UK. Generally our clients do not usually meet her in person.