TRAVEL agents should climb aboard the overseas property
bandwagon before it’s too late but watch out for the sharks
who could leave their reputations in tatters.
The warning comes as more property firms home in on the travel
industry to expand their distribution, promising good commission
and the potential to sell add-ons, following Thomson’s deal
with Parador Properties.
Changes to pension rules in April 2006 will give tax relief on
second homes abroad and market research company Mintel predicts 2.4
million UK adults aspire to own property overseas.
This week Lets Go Travel, which has 40 agencies in the southwest
of England, struck an exclusive deal to refer clients to Avanti
International.
Avanti International Travel Division managing director Laurence
Hicks said: “Agents’ clients are going to own overseas
properties with or without them so they should embrace
it.”
Meanwhile, Bristol-based Superior Holidays has set up a real
estate business offering between £1,000 and £2,000 per
sale and will start recruiting agents this month.
Knight Frank estate agents has also revealed it will sign up
companies – including travel agencies – to its New
Homes Spain brand at trade fairs.
And Spanish property sales specialist Lighthouse – set up
this year by former Thomson boss Shaun Powell – hopes to
double the size of its website with two new areas, Almeria and
Majorca, and 5,000 additional properties.
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