House Hunters International: Portugal Edition
Our Fave Fake
If only everything on TV was real? Ammiright? It’s been well documented that House Hunters International is not an accurate representation of what really goes down behind the scenes. Oftentimes, the couple/family has already chosen a place to live for a totally different price point in a totally different neighborhood than what they show on the episode. Yet, we still watch and dream of how our episode will unfold.
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Our real-life episode is going to look a lot different than we’ve ever imagined. Think 4am WhatsApp tours, and questions like, “Does the house have any weird smells?”, “Are there any death traps for our 2-year old?”, and “Can you sit in the bathtub so I can see how big it is?”
We recently started working with a reputable real estate agent to help us find accommodations for our arrival. It’s not exactly what we had in mind. Finding a place to live for our first year before ever being able to see it in person. We had thought we’d get to Portugal, stay in an Airbnb for a little while until we found the perfect place to settle in to. But I’m going to be Portuguese about it and go with the flow. If this is what we have to do, then we will make it work.
Buyer’s/renter’s agents’ fees are paid by the landlord, so they are free to work with and can be very useful in negotiating, translating, searching, showing, and closing deals for you. Most agencies also have lawyers and translators at your disposal to help you through the process of renting or buying, free of charge.
There were several agents’ names popping up on the AFIP threads. Lee Ann Mumford’s name kept coming up in the Cascais area, so we decided to reach out to her to see if she would be a good fit for us. So many people had recommended her and we are confident she’ll find us the perfect home!
First, we set up an informational call with Lee Ann to go over our timeline, preferences, location, and other details of our search. I had recently attended a webinar led by Lee Ann, so I was familiar with her process and how she works with clients.
Two main takeaways from her webinar:
Ask for everything you want, no matter how silly it may seem. You may not get it, but she won’t know you want it if you don’t tell her.
EVERYTHING is negotiable.
So, at the risk of sounding like a spoiled, entitled American, I set out to make a very detailed list of our wants and needs, must-haves, and nice-to-haves. I laid it all out there. Mostly because I didn’t want to make her guess what we like, but also partly because we’ve lived in an NYC apartment for a long time and are ready to expand our housing horizons. Everyone’s needs are different, so making your wishlist clear from the get-go can help the search go smoothly.
A few non-negotiable must-haves for us include:
Yard/Garden | after living through this pandemic with kids and no outdoor space, this was #1 on our list
2 Bathrooms | no more sharing with guests, of which we hope to have many
Large, Fully-Fitted Modern Kitchen | definitely not common in Portuguese homes but becoming more available in newer builds/renovations
En Suite Master Bedroom | if we never have to tiptoe to the bathroom again, I’d be one very happy mama
With our timeline shrinking, it’s time to officially start the search. We’re excited to see what Lee Ann sends our way. Will we be amazed, disappointed, scared, overjoyed? Only time will tell.
House Hunters UPDATES: We Found Our Dream Home!
House Hunting Help
From real estate agents to DIY home search options, here are some resources to help you find the perfect home.
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Move to Portugal
