Canada Calling, Part 6

That's great to have people who know what they are doing. I would've taken them off your hands! They could be used for a greenhouse.

As there was almost as much wood as glass, they made the apartment quite gloomy. Yes, I managed to get some money for the old windows, as someone used them for a greenhouse.

Always a great use for old windows or they can be used for a sunroom.

The damage the so-called workmen did to the plasterwork and the brickwork was appalling.

That sucks.

Every time I asked them to repair this or fix that, they said, "Well, you will have to pay extra for that. It's not included in the price."

Ridiculous!

Then one of our neighbours turned up, very angry because they had smashed the windscreen on his sister's car. They had dropped something down into the street. It would be funny if it had not been so awful.

Oh no!

So you must get people who are reliable!

No doubt. I know it's hard to find there. We definitely need to go with reliable recommendations.

Well, my friend Adrian has had MASSES of work done on his house, so he might be able to help you. You can also see the things he has done and that might give you some idea of the cost as well and you can see things that we have had done as well.

We are going to be in Stolat, a small village about 20 minutes south west of Sevlievo, for our first accommodation.

I don't know Stolat.

Then five days in VT and then two days in Bojentsi.

Are you planning to do some property viewing as well? Have you contacted some estate agents?

It's half of the primary focus for the trip besides exploring and figuring out towns/areas we like. Yes, we have contacted real estate agents. Still waiting on some, but some are lined up

You should be able to see three or maybe even four different properties in one day, if they are not too far away from each other. Usually you go with the agent in the agent's car. You have to arrange it in advance, so that the vendor will be at home when you call. The actual viewing does not take long, maybe only half an hour or a bit longer, but it is the getting there and getting back that takes the time. Bulgarian country roads can be a bit slow and twisty. Usually you have made up your mind whether you want to buy the property or not in the first ten minutes. Well, that is my experience. Sometimes the property looks great in the estate agent's advertisement, but when you see it in real life....

Yeah, I've heard that. It helps if there is video, but that super rare.

I hope that you get some nice weather. March can be very variable. Sometimes it's like winter, with snow, and sometimes it's an early spring, with warm sunshine. The Bulgarians talk about "Baba Marta" because they say that March is like an old woman who can be sweet and nice one minute and grumpy and bad-tempered the next! Of course, we never really get proper snow, like you do in Canada (a couple of metres deep!)

Yeah, I would've preferred to come in April, but this is when we could swing it.

Of course, April through to July is when most people come to Bulgaria in order to view properties, so it is good to get here a bit early.

Yeah, that's good! Snag that dream property before others get it!

Unfortunately, some agents want to show you the properties that they want to show you, NOT what you want to buy. It is very frustrating when they take you to places that really are not what you want at all. A good agent will try to find something that you really like, homing in on something that is just what you want.

Another problem is that you can see a property on a website and you will think, "Wow! That looks great!" But by the time you have arranged your viewing visit, it has been sold (or under offer). Also there will be some properties that are not yet on the website, so a good agent will say, "This has just come on the market and you really ought to see it!"

This is Andy, our agent from Yantra Homes. He was good. I was not impressed with the agents from Bulgarian Properties.

BP also has actually responded to me and my questions. Most of the real estate agencies I have emailed haven't responded. It's pretty frustrating.

You should be able to get something in the 20-30,000 euro range and then you will probably have to spend at least another 10,000. Central heating is going to cost at least 5,000 and you will probably pay something similar (or more) for new windows.

Yes, this is Bulgaria and replying to emails is a bit hit-and-miss.

At the end of the day, you have to go and see these properties for yourselves and make up your mind. Sometimes the agents don't know the answers to your questions anyway!

For sure.

My advice: get a folder and print out the photos and details of the properties that interest you. This makes it much easier to remember which properties are which! You should also be able to take your own photos when you go to different properties.

I'm using Notion to organize the properties. I'm not much of a paper person, and with Notion I can attach pictures I take, notes, voice clips, videos, links, etc. I am a technology guy.

I hope it all works out for you!