What a difference a year makes at Home Costa Blanca!

Around this time last year, I had the pleasure and privilege of catching up with the Biddles family, for whom running estate agency Home Costa Blanca is a real family affair. If you haven’t yet seen the feature, or if you want to remind yourself of what they can do to help you find your dream property in Algorfa or make your next move, check it out here.  Recently, Around Algorfa caught up with Ebony Biddles to find out what’s been happening since, and it would seem a year can make a whole lot of difference, both in business and in family life. Ebony’s son Alex celebrated his first birthday recently, and there have also been some significant changes at Home Costa Blanca!

New Office on Calle Mayor

In January 2023, Home Costa Blanca moved their office from their previous location on the edges of Algorfa to the heart of the town, on Calla Mayor, just off Plaza España. The new office is finished to a high specification,  making it a comfortable, easily accessible place to discuss your property requirements, and there’s always something going on. As Ebony explained:

It’s so much easier for clients to find, and we also benefit from passing trade. We’re much more visible here, and it’s a more sociable environment for us, as we’re always meeting previous customers.

With increased visibility, it’s just as well the Biddles family are good at what they do. If the estate agency itself is a family affair, that’s also spreading to the client base! One recent client has now recommended Home Costa Blanca to his brother and father-in law, which is testament to the great job the team do. There are numerous ‘Thank You’ cards on display in the office, and while I was there, someone came in with wine and chocolates, proving grateful clients also become friends!

Keyholding Package

It’s never just been about securing the sale for the team at Home Costa Blanca. They want their clients to love life Around Algorfa as much as they do, so they are always available with advice on contractors, repairs and other local services. Not everyone is lucky enough to live here, and for extra peace of mind, holiday home owners often appoint a key holder to oversee their property while they are absent. Some people just want to know someone holds a key in case of emergencies or for a quick, periodic check, while others require cleaning before arrival and even grocery shopping.

Home Costa Blanca’s keyholding package, organised by matriarch Sam, offers three levels of service. This includes a tailor-made option designed to meet the requirements of the most discerning holiday home owners. In addition, extra services such as cleaning, grocery shopping, repair services, car rental/taxi reservations and handling orders and deliveries in your absence can be arranged for all keyholder clients at extra cost. Choose from:

Silver Package:

Designed for your peace of mind, for just €100 per year you can leave a set of keys at the office in case the unexpected happens while you’re away from Spain. Extra services, for example a clean up after a storm, can also be arranged at further cost, using trusted service providers.

Gold Package:

This goes the extra mile, with a monthly internal and external property check. You’ll receive a full report and have access to all additional, optional home services for €160 per year.

Platinum Package:

Your personalised plan, tailored to your specifications includes property checks twice a month with particular attention paid to areas of concern within your property. This premium service comes with a full report and easy access to extra optional services for the amazing price of just €200 per year.

When your property is being checked regularly, there should be no nasty surprises when you arrive for your down time at your dream home, and all this can be arranged for less than the price of a cup of coffee each week. Sam can also negotiate deals with reputable, fully legal tradespeople, so why not take advantage of her invaluable local knowledge by becoming a Home Costa Blanca keyholder client? Contact the office or see the website for more details.

API (Agente de la Propriedad Immobiliaria) Certification

From October 2023, all estate agents in the Valencian Community must be registered in order to trade, and for most, that means some level of training and demonstration of the appropriate skills and other legal requirements is necessary. James, the founder of Home Costa Blanca, has now completed the study programme and passed with flying colours, while still working on behalf of his clients.

Naturally, the whole family are very proud of this achievement, and it offers another layer of reassurance to prospective buyers and sellers, since the course is quite demanding. API certified agents are highly skilled professionals, supported and supervised by the Association of Real Estate Agents.

When James first started Home Costa Blanca, his main objective was to raise the prices in Algorfa so they became commensurate with the level of amenities on offer locally. With the current high demand for property, especially apartments, that objective is well on the way to realisation.

The Home Costa Blanca team are certainly on top of their game, but they also know it makes sense to consult with other trusted agents in order to give their clients the best possible service. Ebony says:

We speak with other local agents on a daily basis, and welcome collaboration, as it offers more options to our clients. We focus on what we do best, which is pairing clients with their perfect property solution, and we are always busy, and always open to collaboration to secure the best deal for everyone concerned. Ultimately, it’s all about what our clients need. If they are happy, so are we.

The Biddles family love Algorfa, and specialise in properties in the local area, but they also operate across the whole of the Costa Blanca.  Backed by Dad Lee’s 23 years experience as an estate agent in Spain with The Retail Centre, Torrevieja, they are going from strength to strength.

Around Algorfa wishes Home Costa Blanca every success in their new ‘home’ in Algorfa, and we look forward to catching up next year on any new developments at home and at work.

Image credits: All images courtesy of Home Costa Blanca