Covid-19! Hondón Villas Are Back!

UPDATE JUNE 21: The Hondón Area is now in a “new” normal, post Covid lock-down and residents and visitors are now out and about. Thankfully the shops, bars and restaurants are bringing the place alive again (still taking precautions of course).

The Hondón Villas office is open from Mon-Fri for appointments and walk-ins. Please observe the social distance rules and hygiene rules to protect others.
HONDON VILLAS REAL ESTATE SERVICES.
++ We can now offer VIEWINGS and VALUATIONS by STRICT APPOINTMENT & CONSENT ONLY. We will be following all hygiene & social distancing rules as directed by the Spanish Government.

You call us, email or message us for an appointment (see contact details below).

++ SAFETY FOR ALL: We INSIST that all parties involved (vendors, agent, buyers) must be using suitable masks, gloves & sanitizer and to keep a safe distance from each other. We cannot allow appointments without this protection.

Hondon Villas have a small supply of masks and will, subject to availability, be happy to provide for any clients who cannot obtain their own (recommended).

++ CARS / TRAVEL: It is also required that all clients to use their OWN VEHICLES to attend an appointment, as we are unable to have any clients in our company cars at the moment.

++ IT’S OPTIONAL: We are aware that NOT all clients will want to risk viewings or valuations and of course we will respect this.

++ OFFICE VISITS: The office is open for walk-ins but ideally by appointment and adhering to social distancing / hygiene will be necessary. We have thoroughly cleaned and adapted our Frailes office to make sure it is safer for you and our staff.

CONTACT US: You can make appointments, call us, send messages and emails if you need to ask us a question or are concerned about your property in any way. Here are our main points of contact.
WEBSITE: WWW.HONDONVILLAS.NET
OFFICE: +34 622 314 244
EMAIL: agent@hondonvillas.net
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/hondonvillas/

IMPORTANT: Please bear in mind that making appointments for house viewings or new property listings will need to adhere to safety and hygiene rules during COVID-19 crisis. And our ability to serve you as we would normally like is affected. Our website, marketing, social media and property advertising continues as normal.

Sold Sold Sold! Villas in the Hondón Valley

We sell property in the Hondón Valley. And we sell more houses in this area than any other agent. We’ve lived and worked in the area for about 15 years… that longevity and experience is for you to take advantage of.
Please let us help you buy or sell your Hondón Home. :-)

Selling houses and villas in the Hondon Valley for years.

++ Every year so far we have beat the previous year’s sales figures.
++ Thank you for your support and please if you care about keeping local businesses alive
++ Over 1.8 million website views since we started!
++ We also know we sell more homes than any other agent in the area.
++ This graphic attached might illustrate our success a little
(click to see in full – actually there are more, we just couldn’t fit them on).
++ We are honoured to have served so many people and lasted so long

Pop-in to our Hondon de los Frailes office (Main plaza) or visit our website for all contact points and the latest property for sale : www.hondonvillas.net
Thanks Again : The Hondon Villas Team.

COVID-19 Crisis : Bouncing Back

Thanks to Dino T. on Facebook for the following article / a quick guide to managing this crisis, for workers, business owners and residents during this CoronaVirus 19 Lockdown in Spain. #keepsafe #stayathome #coronavirus

GET UPDATES on COVID 19 : WHO Website

Coronavirus Covid 19. #stayathome in the Hondon Valley
Please keep yourself and others safe.

No. #1 Be positive – we know how hard it is to be positive at the moment, but the law of attraction means that the more positive we are, the better things start to turn out. Life will go on, we will make a success out of the changes, however long things may take.

Protect your future business – before closing down, consider using ERTEs to be able to temporarily lay off staff, you can then take them back on again when business gets back to normal. Claim your one-off benefit from the state and register for the social security moratorium. Stay in touch with your Gestoria about what else you could do. Contact your customers to re-assure them that you will be back soon. How can you strengthen your business in the future? Who can you collaborate with? What opportunities will all these changes bring? How can your business help other local businesses?

Mortgage break – Most banks are now offering a Government backed scheme to have a moratorium of up to 6 months, that could give you the space you need to get back on your feet. You may need help filling in the forms from your bank or Gestoria.

Sort your rent out – pay it if you are able, look into what help might be available, ask your landlord for a payment break. Do not bury your head in the sands, landlords will be more flexible if you stay in touch with them.

Make sure your paperwork is up to date – register when you can on the “padron” at the town hall, check that your residencia is still valid, make sure your tenancy contract is up to date. Without these things, you may struggle to get help from authorities.

Don’t worry if the ITV inspection of your car is overdue – the centres are closed, so you won´t be fined. But remember to book it in as soon as they re-open and don’t drive your car if it is not roadworthy or insured.

Look after your physical and mental health and those around you – eating a balanced healthy diet, control your drinking, get some exercise, sing in the shower, share your problems, do deep breathing exercises, take up yoga, sleep regular timetables, leave your mobiles before bed, spend time with your children or pets.

Don’t worry about things that are out of your control. Read the news, but don’t obsess about it. Don’t get ill – things will seem worse if you get infected. Stay home unless essential. Don’t take risks with your health and those living in your household. When you do go out, use gloves and hand sanitizer, stay 2 metres away from people.

Coronavirus Covid 19, selfie with the Mona Lisa.

Check what benefits might be available – some new benefits are becoming available for those who don’t have the right to “paro” (unemployment). Find help if you don’t understand what you are reading. Consider what other employment or self- employment options may exist after the return.

Talk to Citizens Advice Bureau Spain about your problems and read their regular posts about benefits, tax, residency, etc… don’t ask on general sites because people may not know and inadvertently give you incorrect advice. Here is their excellent website.

Respect the workers – don’t get mad with health workers, town hall employees, supermarket workers, police. Instead thank them for their work and do everything you can to make their work easier and safer.

Focus on priorities – make an action plan and do something positive every day. Don’t ignore anything, be aware of what you need to do and when.

Prepare for the future you want – consider what kind of future you want, what would be your ideal work / business? Use the lockdown time to research your plans, making plans for the future will make you feel stronger.

Consider releasing monies that are tied up in savings plans and private pensions, but check if there are any penalties or tax disadvantages in doing so Consider renting out a room in your home to share expenses.

Share your experiences – how did you cope? Did you manage to get help from Social Security or the Tax Office? Share your experiences and help others. We are all in this together.

Show you care – call your closest friends, listen to their problems too, they are also suffering, remember that ¨a problem shared is a problem halved¨. Do something kind for friends and neighbours, it will also make you feel better.

Sell your stuff – when the lockdown ends, could you sell some of your valuable belongings? Maybe trade down your car for a cheaper model.

Consider going home – if you have exhausted all your options, be open to the idea of returning to your home country, especially if employment or business options will be brighter there. It is not failure, it is recognising when the time is right to do something different and moving on.

This article was first written and published b Dino Trubbianelli c2020 on Facebook. Please support his website “Visit Albir”.

Save 1000’s with the MoneyCorp Foreign Exchange

bnr-moneycorp-currency-calculator If you are using a foreign currency, like Sterling or Dollars to buy or pay for your Spanish property / mortgage or just need to transfer some larger sums of money  to or from Spain then you SHOULD be using a Currency Exchange Service.

IT CAN LITERALLY SAVE YOU 1000’s ON FEES AND POORER BANK RATES. 

» OPEN A MONEYCORP A/c HERE / READ UP

Incredibly even a small percentage fluctuation in the rates can make a massive difference in what you get back.

IN FACT if you TIME IT RIGHT you can literally save 1000’s on an exchange deal when paying off your house purchase.

So it is ALWAYS WORTH using a reliable and trusted foreign exchange service, like MoneyCorp as their rates and service are much better than a typical bank or Bureau de Change service.

At Hondon Villas we use and recommend MoneyCorp for your foreign payments. Alan can advise you on the BEST ROUTE fro your needs, he is so helpful. Here is a quick link to » OPEN AN ACCOUNT TODAY, IT’S EASY

15 Years Serving the Hondón Valley

Hondon Villas were established in 2006 and the 1st English Speaking Agent selling property with a registered office in the Hondon Valley which includes the La Montanosa Urb. Since then we have steadily expanded and increased our office space. Come to our office for help to buy or sell your Hondon property.

Where is our Hondon Villas office is?
We are in the main plaza of Hondon de los Frailes 03689, next to the 28 Restaurant… just look for our blue/green sign.

We are open Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm… Weekends & evenings by appointment.
TEL: (0034) 965 075 357

Reasons to use Hondon Villas:

  • Voted Business of the Year – Safe Buy Confidence
  • Smashed 2 MILLION website visitors
  • AIPP member with Pro’ industry standard for 5 years
  • 30+ Years Experience in Real Estate
  • Local staff who know the Hondon areas well
  • Real office premises in Frailes Plaza
  • Helpful, friendly and multi-lingual staff
  • Open 5 days a week (weekends by appointment)
  • Community Sponsors and Partner Network
  • Domination of Google Search Rank
  • Local and European Advertising
  • After Sales Hand Holding

Wot!? Are Drones allowed over Hondon?

Drone flying in the sunset

March 2020: Aerial photographs and videos are all the rage in Real Estate. These are usually taken with a drone (a remote controlled quad-copter) fitted with a camera. The drone is operated by a Drone Pilot within a few metres of the target property. They can show the property and its gardens or land in new exciting ways. Some are stunning when seen from the skies. Alas, there are also down sides and legal requirements when using drones for commercial purposes.

2021 Edit: As of December 31, 2020, the European UAS regulations now apply. All drone users have to register themselves and their drone before using + take training + a test. This rule affects all drones regardless of their use or size in Spain. You can find detailed information on these new rules here .

Hondon Villas rarely did/do drone videos. We have not offered drone videos on property since 2019. When we asked about the legalities of using our own drone, we were told by law enforcement to stop using drones or risk a fine until we could completely comply with the 2017 Spanish Law on RPAS devices (drones) and adhere to the Controlled Airspace rules for our area.

Also after the initial excitement, we were finding drones cumbersome to do, time consuming to edit, an added expense & a workflow headache on top of doing the usual DSLR video and photograph production for a typical Hondon property. In practise it would mean the sales agent going around to see the client, then a photographer/videographer and then a drone pilot… sometimes three visits if they could not all go together. And then of course if the client called other agents to list their house the visit count / inconvenience multiplied.

More recently though, the latest Spanish drone laws now come with massive fines for improper use. Fines that could ruin a business. Costly official training is needed to. This and the cost per flight commission finally poured water on any future strategy on using drones for real estate for each property we market.

In short we are not offering aerial productions in general right now. We may do in the future for properties that deserve to be shown off from the air but with due consideration to the cost and for the current laws. Other agents are still using them, some systematically and illegally. But maybe they should re-consider. Why? … first the history.

Spot the trend…

Hondón Villas were the first agents locally to employ a drone pilot 3.5 years ago as a test-bed for the future. Miguel was from Aspe and had qualified as a Drone Pilot with his license & training at an Alicante school approved by AESA. He had experience, full liability insurance and the best drone on the market at the time. He took care of the legal side and all clients gave us permission to film over their property.

We video tested a few select properties in the Hondon Valley but outside the nearby Alicante flight path to be safe. The clients loved them, we loved them and it all looked good. However as a new service, each raw video cost about €100 to commission. This price bumped up the cost of marketing a property. No drone videos can guarantee a house sale so we used them on our exclusive listings only to get more value from this price. But it needed some thought and assessment time before we stumped up more investment and pulled the trigger on this new tech’ full time.

Potential or Expensive Risk?

Drone image over real estate

Even before that, we had an eye for the new technology but pro’ quality drones were then very expensive, bulky and the rules surrounding them confusing and strict. We blogged about it at the time. We sought advice from a lawyer who advised it would be unwise to use a drone for business as Spanish law was not fully formed then. So despite their excellent potential, ease of use and the stunning videos we saw, we decided then not to bother with drone video on the grounds of expense, the infancy in the technology, lack of support from manufacturers and the privacy / safety of people or buildings.

The Must-Have Bandwagon

But they became hard to ignore, as new drones improved, got cheaper and more accessible to small businesses and enthusiasts. Many estate agents were using them regardless of rules and some customers were asking for the service. By now they were then being used in top ranking films and TV documentaries. Drone cameras improved and could now shoot in high resolution 4K (broadcast quality) and in so doing, creating new markets and new uses. They were becoming affordable and Real Estate was a good match for this aerial view technology.

Growth meant more legal obligations & regulations

However, back in 2017 as drone sales grew, Spain had to introduce very strict “emergency” legislation on the use of drones as their government was politically fragmented and in the throws of cross-party unrest. It was easier for them to ignore the potential of drones and so make them hard to use with life-changing fines if misused.

This thwarted commercial markets and made Spain an outcast in European Drone use. It also meant many people ignored the rules and added to the danger of the skies. Since then the drone industry and their use in Real Estate is smoother and now established to high degree across the globe. Spain has embraced them too for public services like the police or traffic control.

For the latest news and rules on drone flying in Spain … see the EASA / AESA Page:
> https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/es/ambitos/drones

We took training and obtained a RPAS drone licence via the Civil Aviation Authority (UK) in the belief that it would be valid in Europe / Spain but were subsequently told Spain would not recognise a UK drone license and to do so would need to be tested by EU law !!! Hardly a level EU playing field then? But rightly so, we do have drone rules, guidelines and laws on drone use to stop a dangerous free-for-all in the skies. However, a drone pilot in Spain (as of writing, we understand) needs AESA approved training and tests / flight permissions submitted in Spanish.

Certificates to fly drones CAA (UK)
Training Certs Date: 2017

Law and guideline changes again… and again!

Good news cometh: In 2020 the Spanish drone laws became more relaxed and a “Drone Code” created. Commercial users still need a certified course, license, etc and these new laws were still a stricter than other EU members. So this fragmented approach across the Union resulted in a push by the EU to have a common framework of Europe-wide rules that each member country can use as the basis of their drone laws.

Up-to-date: A new EU / EASA set of regulatory framework for drone usage is meant to be introduced soon in 2021 (if Covid doesn’t delay them). If they are, then in theory any EU based Drone Pilot can fly his/her drone legally in any member state with the same (or very similar) qualifications. At the moment (2020) you might be an accredited drone pilot in Denmark but not in France as laws differ. The new EU-wide idea sounds great but we are not there yet! Also it is said that existing pilot may still need to retake a test. If a pilot is not registered yet then they WILL have to get qualified at their own cost. It is also unclear if a UK based pilot will need to retest in the EU after BREXIT. We await this new evolution and rollout.

Strict Rules on Commercial Use

Our research showed us that since 2017 the Spanish Laws are very clear about who can fly a drone for commercial purposes (business / for profit use) and that of a hobby pilot. As we understand it, the latest laws on drones 2020 for commercial use specify drone size /weight limits, official AESA approved training including flight maps, airspace zones, need insurance, registration plates, a medical certificate (i.e you are fit to fly a craft), operational manuals and standards on skyward height restrictions and line-of-sight distances from pilot to drone. They also state skies where drones are not allowed to fly or need Traffic Control permission, like Alicante flight paths, natural parks, airports, prisons, urbanisations, beaches, the privacy of people. The weather has to be taken into account as does any unusual 3rd party flights at the time known as NOTAMs … and indeed most of the this and the Op’s Manual has to be done in Spanish. The courses / tests are usually in Spanish too.

(As of writing 2020) It is required that all commercial pilots train for their license with at least a week of hours for study at an approved school, show competence in practical flight tests and pass a multi-choice questionnaire on their studies. Each drone has to have a fire-proof plate of their pilot reg’ number attached to the drone.

Safety and Privacy

As you can see the rules and laws are quite prohibitive / awkward but necessary for safety and privacy. They may seem to be overkill in such a quiet rural area as the Hondon Valley but we are in a fly zone. We also appreciate people’s right to a safe and private sky and that pilots should be covered by insurance and follow the rules. Alas, we have been warned the law is the law and ignorance is no defence!

But, after due consideration & research, we decided that the fines are not worth it doing this illegally or bypassing some of the fly zone requirements. Nor would it look good for our reputation as an AIPP Real Estate member.

There is no hard evidence as yet that drone footage helps to sell more houses anyway. They help filter the buyer’s choice either way. E.G. Seeing the local area could put people off or conversely attract them. This can lead to selective editing by the estate agent (i.e. miss out the scruffy dog kennels to the west side !!). Drones can used for the sake of it too. As a tool they can be used to show the good, bad and the ugly. Agents want to show the good of course.

So we are always considering the future on using drones or new tech at Hondon Villas and watching the industry closely. For sure though, as we write, very few local pilots /agents have the above accreditations, get permission to fly and disregard for the law. We could not fnd any local agents on the AESA Pilot’s register either as at the time of writing. Most likely they are all flying illegally.

For the latest news and rules on drone flying in Spain … see the EASA / AESA Page:
> https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/es/ambitos/drones

*AESA: The Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency is the national aviation authority for Spain. The agency is based in Madrid, where it currently occupies offices in the AZCA district, pending the refurbishment of a building on the Paseo de la Castellana.

Hondon Valley. Spanish Property Agent – Buy or Sell

Hondon Valley. Spanish Property Agent – Buy or Sell in the Hondón Valley

Hondon Frailes Delightful Villa. Hondon Villas cant wait to get a viewing on this very attractive 5 bedroomed villa which is located in Casas Galianas close to Hondon de los Frailes. #871 Casa de Galianas Detached Villa

Hondon Villas are very happy to offer for sale this superb villa situated in the very popular village of Hondon de los Frailes and is in walking distance too.

#869 Hondon de los Frailes Immaculate Villa
Hondon Villas are thrilled to bring onto the market a very special villa. Which can only be appreciated by viewing.

Sitting on a large plot of 100,000m2 5,000m2 is covered with almond groves which are maintained by a local farmer.

#867 Hondon Frailes Link Detached Villa in Central LocationHondon Villas have brought onto the market this lovely link detached villa in a central location and within a few minutes walk into the village of Frailes.

#865 Casas de Galiana FincaThis beautiful, fully restored Finca is located high in the mountains of Casas de Galiana, between the villages of Hondon de las Nieves and Hondon de los Frailes .

The villa offers one of the best un interupted views as it is high in the mountain at the end of a private road, perfect if you like a walk up the mountains and there is no passing traffic.

#863 La Canalosa Character PropertyHondon Villas have brought onto he market this Cottage style Finca with a lovely setting and fab views.

The finca has a lovely feel to it and has the advantage of a little 1 bedroom 1 bathroom casita for guest accommodation.

#862 Hondon de los Frailes finca in Need of RestorationHondon Villas are marketing this property to secure interest from either a developer or builder as it needs fully renovating.

The price for the size of the plot and land is reflected in the works required but with a little bit of imagination this could be a lovely finca, just needs some care and attention.

Viewing is strictly by appointment with HONDON VILLAS
www.hondonvillas.net

Local knowledge counts when buying Hondon Property

Question: If an agent is not local how can they give you the best advice on local property rules, building regulations, about the area or tell you where the doctor is, the plumber, the shop times, the best bars or social groups?
Answer: THEY CAN’T !!  … Why? read below

A warm welcome from a Hondon Agent

Buying a house is not just “buying a house”. It is about location, services, facilities, the people and the local “vibe”.

Hondon Villas are a local “WE” agent…When we say WE we are more than one. Other agents are one and operate from a mobile and car. We have a real office.

We employ local people and We have an office in the Frailes High Street. We don’t collaborate unless We can give you the high level of local service you deserve when investing in the area. We try to use local tradespeople where possible to help the local economy.

Above all, We are local people with training and experience (over 30 years actually in Real Estate). We have excellent local ties with the Town Hall and translators. We offer you 100% independent legal advice through trusted partners. We know the best bespoke builders and architects here. We know the best tradesmen, bars, restaurants and shops. We can help you with your utilities and bank accounts …. the KNOWLEDGE list is longer.

So Hondon Villas don’t just sell you a house, never to be seen again … WE ACTUALLY CARE and WE GIVE YOU TIME!

HVOfficeLaunch06And PRESSURE SALES? What pressure… if you are not comfortable with your current agent … come to see us… there is NO comparison as we just don’t do pressure!

So be careful of other agents and their spiel who speak as “We”. Often he/she is “I”. Always check their credentials, ask if they are trained in real Estate and experienced as often they are not. Often they collaborate with other 3rd party agents and pass your data from pillar to post. They run their one-man businesses from a car and a mobile phone… Most don’t even live anywhere near here or know the Hondon Valley.

We are “Hondon Villas”… the clue is in the name. There are no others like us!
> Buy or Sell property with the #1 AIPP agent in the Hondon Valley area.  http://www.hondonvillas.net/