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Charlie chatting about Deia property…April 23, 2015

Charles Marlow is fast becoming the most trusted and highly regarded agency in Deia. Charlie Hill, Partner and Head of Sales, offers his view on why Deia and the West Coast is such a popular place in which to settle.

What is the appeal of Deia and the West Coast for potential owners?

Obviously, the main reason people buy here is the incredible beauty of the place and building restrictions mean that the view you buy now will stay the same for years to come.

The weather’s fantastic. There’s a great selection of restaurants. It’s heaven for people who love walking, cycling and other outdoor pastimes. And, of course, it’s easy to get to Mallorca from anywhere in Europe.

But, there are other really good reasons which are not so immediately obvious. This is a very safe area. What wealth there is here is understated. People don’t judge others because, most of all, this is a community of likeminded people who want to integrate and meet other interesting characters. And we have plenty of them!

How much of a smart investment is property in this location, as opposed to buying because a potential owner loves the place?

This is not an area for investors to make quick money but it is a safe place to put your money due to simple economics – supply and demand.

Anyone buying here must be sure they love the area and really do want to spend time in the place because you really do pay a premium for this location.  Having said that, if you want to rent out your property in the key summer months, it’ll more than pay for your upkeep.

What are the specific challenges a potential owner faces when buying here?

I say to anybody buying here “You’ll have to compromise”. But that’s what makes the place and the people so special. They’ve sacrificed something to be in Deia.  Buyers come with a wish list but it’s those who are prepared to compromise that actually do buy here and then experience life in a way which is much more satisfying than just holidaying.

Why is the Charles Marlow approach to property in this location different?

The key difference is we don’t list just any property that’s for sale. We make sure we’re only showcasing the best selection of houses in the area based on quality, location, legalities and, naturally, price.

We also see ourselves as part of the community here and we support local business, including Deia’s artists. We’ve just created table placemats for The Village Café, one of the local restaurants to help promote their work. Doing this kind of thing isn’t just smart business. It feels good.

We’ve always given a percentage of every sale to charity and we’ve now  created our own foundation – the Charles Marlow Foundation. Because, when we started the business we knew that, if we were lucky enough to make any money, we’d like to pass some of it on to those less fortunate than us.

Thinking past the sale of a property is central to everything we do, really. We’re planning an event at the end of this summer to help make sure buyers and residents meet so the village can continue to thrive. After this, we hope to have quarterly events.

How do you see the future for Charles Marlow?

We help people find homes in this special village and we’re very conscious of the role we’re obliged to play in keeping it special. Inevitably, then, this means that we make sure we’re always exploring ways to work better and deliver more. We don’t stand still.

The word “unique” is over-used but we definitely have a distinctive approach to the way we work and we want to do it justice.

What is the future for property in Deia and the West Coast?

Deia is in a fortunate position because it can learn from many other areas across Europe that have overdeveloped and lost the charm that people fell in love with in the first place.  Deia’s Town Hall and the planners know that they have to get the balance between encouraging tourism and not spoiling what it is people come to see right.

More and more people are no longer looking for a villa with a sea view surrounded by others just like it. It’s becoming much more about things like reconnecting with nature. Take a boat down the West Coast and you’ll see that it’s one of the least developed hotspots in Europe and this offers true quality of life.

We started this interview by saying that the view people buy here is going to stay the same for years. This is partly because the Serra de Tramuntana in which Deia sits has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the Cultural Landscape category. This means it’s a great example of the, and I’m quoting now, “near-perfect symbiosis between the action of human beings and nature”. Isn’t that great?

We definitely love being part of this. Wouldn’t you?

Thanks, Charlie.

Patrick

Patrick Hill is co-founder, and co-owner, of Charles Marlow with his brother Charlie. He was the first to come from the UK to Deia to start the company. Today, Patrick continues to help set the strategic direction and splits his time between the UK and Mallorca

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