by Ivo Henfling
Every year I get surprised emails from interested people asking to see Costa Rica real estate during the Christmas holidays. They act surprised when they find out our real estate offices close down a couple of days before Christmas until after the 2nd week of January of the next year.
Thousands of tourists visit Costa Rica during their Christmas and New Year getaways and email us ahead of time that they will be in town from such date to so date and please let’s go see some Costa Rica property for sale.
Been there, done that, for about 20 years. All those wasted days, wasted gas and a mad wife (I know honey, you were always right). All those missed Christmas dinners or just seeing the last of it wrapped in a sandwich and to eat it during the next real estate tour.
Most people understand, some don’t, but they all try to find a real estate agent, wet behind the ears, willing to do the favor. So I decided to make a list of all the reasons, in order of importance, why we close down our office and go on a break ourselves.
Costa Rica Real estate agents have a family too.
We didn’t move to Costa Rica to only work, we moved here to slow down.
The National Register is closed until the 2nd week of January, so no serious business can be done until then.
All the real estate attorneys left town until the 2nd week of January because the National Register is closed.
Sellers are also on vacation and there is no way to get into the houses for sale, we have no lockboxes in Costa Rica.
The sellers’ housekeepers also took off for vacation and are in Nicaragua.
If we call them on their cell phone to ask how to get into their home while they’re sitting on the beach, they hang up on us.
It is the only time of the year a real estate agent gets away and to spend time with family and friends.
We need the time off to start a new year with plenty of energy to be nice to buyers and sellers and serve you better.
We still have to take care of 250 emails a day from people who do not know it is Christmas and New Year.
Some of us are religious and like to spend time with the one we worship.
And even when we take the client for a tour and we find that perfect property at the right price, in January next year that buyer has totally disappeared on us and our time and effort was totally wasted.
So now you know, all GoDutch Realty agents will be on vacation, every year, between the 22nd of December and the 2nd week of January. You can of course contact us the other 350 days of the year if you want to buy or sell real estate in the Central Valley.
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I DO want to remind our readers that we appreciate any referrals you can send us. I know you all meet people on the plane, in the supermarket, at yoga, at the gym, at the Blooms ladies club, at the potluck organized by your community. Please remember the GoDutch Realty agents when you talk about your home in Costa Rica, when you meet someone who wants to purchase one, we appreciate it.
