Call for agents to sell overseas property

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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