A little thread 🧵 15 years ago I sold a house to a really nice guy called Paul. The house was owned by a real character called Fidel so we had a lot of fun with this sale. Obvs my client and I got on well as we bonded over the sheer lunacy of Fidel 
Post purchase we found a lot of, shall we say “quirks” with Fidel’s DIY obsession so I visited often to see the latest “you’ll never guess what we have found now”.
I made a video at the house where Paul recommended our company and services and showed us around a bit and Paul even bought a car off me before I gave him the money back when he told me it couldn’t really handle the steep hill to get up to the house.
Last week I got a mail from Paul “Graham. I need to sell the house quickly, I’ve got cancer and the doctor has given me three to four weeks”
So we got to work. I introduced the family to our recommended lawyer here and asked for a load of information to include in a power of attorney. We even contacted a local solicitor near the hospital willing to do a hospital visit to get the document signed.
I searched through all old mails and paperwork to find details for the POA to give to the lawyer and we even found a potential buyer who would be interested in buying it, the property was perfect for them.
I picked up some keys from the cleaner here and went to the house, it was like reacquainting myself with an old friend. I forgot my drone so went back the next day and flew around a bit to help with the sale in case the first client decided not to go through with it
Finally, yesterday morning, we had all of the information necessary to send the POA to the solicitor…
At the same time yesterday morning I got a phone call. “Paul died last night” That few weeks he had been given turned out to be 9 days…
Yes it’s a sad story. Paul was a really nice guy and made everyone he met happy. He married his long time girlfriend last week before his death to make sure everything was tied up in the Uk with no loose ends. However here is the lesson…
If he had had a POA already in place here in Spain then it’s likely we could have sold the house for his family before his death (or even after but that’s another story) now we have to do a few things and the family will not be able to sell the house for at least a year…
We will need to register the death here in Spain requiring a death certificate and translation (possibly). Both heirs will have to visit to get a POA and NIE number so the house can be registered in their name. We have to hope the Spanish registrar accepts the UK will…
…as Paul didn’t have a will here in Spain. The process of inheritance is long and costly without the money from the sale being available. There is also a potential inheritance tax issue for both heirs which will need to be paid a couple of months after the death is registered…
The property cannot be sold until it is registered in the names of both heirs which will take around a year. I guess the moral of the story is tie up all potential loose ends in Spain as soon as you buy a property to avoid what can become a costly, drawn out process …
And finally RIP Paul. You were a good lad. (And would appreciate the GIF)
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