Selling Your Property in Marbella: The Complete Guide

A Marbella sale goes well when three things are right from the start: the agent, the price and the paperwork. Get those in place and the rest of the process, from the first viewing to the keys changing hands at the notary, usually follows smoothly. This guide walks you through every stage, what it costs, and the questions sellers ask us most.

Many owners in Marbella hand their keys to several agencies at once, expecting more agents to mean more buyers. In practice the property tends to appear at different prices on different websites, often with the same photos, and serious buyers start to wonder why it has not sold. Because no agency is sure of being paid, few invest properly in presenting it.

An exclusive mandate works the other way round. One agency has the sole right to sell for an agreed period and, in return, commits a budget, a marketing plan and its time to your home. A good exclusive agent still shares the property with trusted collaborating agencies, so you keep access to their buyers, but with one consistent listing, one price and one person who sees every enquiry and every offer.

Before you sign, make sure the agreement sets out:

• a written valuation and the reasoning behind the asking price;
• the marketing plan: photography, video, portals, advertising, buyer database and partner agencies;
• the duration, and what happens when it ends;
• the fee and when it is payable;
• how often you will receive feedback on enquiries and viewings.

The asking price should come from what has actually sold nearby, not from what neighbours are asking. A sound valuation weighs recent sales against your home's views, orientation, plot, condition and licences, and against the properties a buyer will compare it with today.

Pricing too high is the most common reason a Marbella home sits on the market. The first few weeks bring the most attention, and a property that launches at the right price usually receives its best offers then. One that has to be reduced later often sells for less than it would have done.

Marbella sells all year round because most buyers come from abroad, although spring, early summer and early autumn tend to bring the most viewings. The right moment is when the property and its paperwork are ready.

Small repairs, decluttering and good styling make a visible difference in photos and viewings. The paperwork matters just as much, because a buyer's lawyer will check it in detail. Have these ready:

• the title deed (escritura) and a recent land registry extract (nota simple);
• the latest IBI property tax and rubbish collection receipts;
• a certificate from the community of owners showing fees are paid up, where relevant;
• the energy performance certificate, which is required before the property can be advertised;
• your NIE, passport and recent utility bills;
• licences and plans for extensions, pools or renovations, and any warranties.

If anything on the property was built without a licence or is not registered, raise it with your agent and lawyer at the start. It can usually be regularised, but it takes time and is far easier to solve before a buyer is waiting.

Most buyers decide whether to view a property from what they see online, often from another country. That means professional photography, video and floor plans, with drone footage and virtual tours for the homes that suit them, and a clear, accurate description in several languages.

From there the property should reach buyers through several channels at once: the agency's own website, the leading Spanish and international portals, the agency's database of active buyers and its network of collaborating agents. If you prefer discretion, a property can also be offered off-market to a small number of selected buyers without public advertising.

Your agent should qualify buyers before they visit, accompany every viewing and tell you honestly what people thought. When an offer arrives, look beyond the headline price: how the buyer is financing the purchase, how quickly they can complete and what conditions they attach can matter as much as the number.

Once a price is agreed, the buyer normally pays a reservation deposit to take the property off the market. A private purchase contract follows, usually with a deposit of around 10% of the price. The balance is paid at the notary when the deed is signed, and the keys are handed over the same day. From private contract to completion typically takes one to three months.

You do not need to be in Marbella for any of this. Your agent handles viewings and negotiation, and your lawyer can sign at the notary on your behalf with a power of attorney.

• the agency fee agreed in your contract;
• the municipal plusvalía tax on the increase in the value of the land;
• capital gains tax on any profit: 19% for non-residents, and the savings income rates for Spanish residents, with reliefs in some cases, for example for residents over 65 selling their main home;
• your lawyer's fees, and the cost of cancelling a mortgage if there is one.

If you are not resident in Spain, the buyer withholds 3% of the price and pays it to the tax office as a payment on account of your capital gains tax; any excess can be reclaimed. Our guide to non-resident taxes explains how. Before you go to market, we can put you in touch with a trusted local lawyer who can calculate what you will receive after taxes and costs.

How long will it take to sell?

A well-priced apartment or townhouse can sell within weeks. A large villa or a very individual home may take longer to meet the right buyer. Completion then follows one to three months after the private contract.

Can I keep living in the property while it is for sale?

Yes. Most sellers do. Viewings are arranged in advance at times that suit you.

Can I sell without advertising publicly?

Yes. An off-market sale offers the property privately to selected buyers, which many owners of high-value homes prefer.

See how we sell homes in Marbella, or contact us to request a confidential, no-obligation valuation.