Factors to Consider when Purchasing New Property in Sofia
Whether you are looking for somewhere to live or investing in property in Sofia to make a profit – you may run into problems if you cannot speak the Bulgarian language or understand the Bulgarian real estate system when purchasing new property in Sofia.
New houses and apartments will be delivered unfinished so you will have to purchase all the kitchen and bathroom equipment, tiles, parquet flooring, interior doors, etc., and find someone to do the work.
Purchasing Bathroom Fixtures and Fittings
Installing the bathroom is one of the first things that you must do when finishing a new-build property in Sofia. There are many bathroom shops in Sofia, so where do you start?
Firstly, you must avoid visiting the store during the weekend as they will be full of customers, and you will not get the proper service you desire.
Secondly, you must find a store that has English speaking staff (not so easy) or have a Bulgarian speaker with you that will help you design and build your new bathrooms.
As well as baths, showers, basins and toilets you must consider the tiling, ceiling and lighting for the bathroom that fits the plan.
Sofia Property Broker has partnered with leading bathroom stores in Sofia that will get you the same price as the locals, translate any questions and help you throughout the buying process.
Finding the Right Builder in Sofia
Finding a good builder to finish your new build property or refurbish an older place in Sofia can be difficult due to the large number of homes that need building work, the lack of English spoken by professionals in the building industry – not to mention the price increase that is charged to foreigners.
You need to employ a real estate agent in Sofia who speaks fluent English that can help you to find the best builder to finish your property at a price charged to Bulgarians.
Designing your New Kitchen in Sofia
You basically have two choices:
- Visit a store in Sofia and have them design the store for you (this is the expensive option)
- Have your kitchen designed, built and installed by a Bulgarian craftsman who will only be limited by your imagination and the new kitchen will cost half the price of a store importing the kitchen from abroad.
In either case, Sofia Property Broker has partnered with leading stores, designers and craftsmen to build your kitchen for the same price that Bulgarians pay.
Finding a Lawyer in Sofia
Finding a lawyer in Sofia is not an easy task. There are many lawyers practicing in Sofia but choosing the right one can be difficult. A good real estate agent in Sofia will help you find a lawyer that:
- Speaks perfect English or your native language.
- Is a specialist in Real Estate.
- Can deliver your business on schedule.
Sofia Property Broker has partnered with the leading real estate foreign investment law firm in Bulgaria who will be able to handle you requirements however simple or complex.
Purchasing Furniture in Sofia
If you are going to live in the property or rent it out fully furnished, then you will need to purchase a full set of bedroom, living room and kitchen ware.
Many of the leading furniture shops in Sofia import their furniture – the cheaper furniture comes from Turkey while the more expensive items will come from Italy. However, many of the items they sell must be ordered, built and transported before they are ready for you to use. This process can take up to three months.
The alternative is to buy from the stock they have in Bulgaria which can be delivered during the next week.
Sofia Property Brokers know the stores that offer the best quality furniture at a reasonable price and will be with you if you wish when you order the furniture to make sure that you know what you are getting and when it is likely to arrive.
Selecting Flooring in Sofia
Your floors are likely to be a combination of tiles and wood. For the tiles, it may be that you use the same supplier as you used for your bathroom tiles. Many people choose to use ‘wooden’ flooring for their living and sleeping quarters as it is warmer on the feet during the cold Sofia winters.
There are two types of ‘wooden’ flooring commonly used in Sofia:
- Laminate – which is the cheaper option.
- Parquet – which is made of real wood.
This article can help you decide what wooden flooring is best for you.
Sofia Property Broker have built up strong relationships with several of the leading Parquet flooring businesses in Sofia and can give you solid advice on what is the most appropriate type of wooden flooring and the best way to install it in your new property.
What Type of Heating to Install in your New Property in Sofia?
The first decision is whether to use electricity, gas or the municipality central heating system in Sofia.
The municipality central heating system is available in some properties and provides hot water the whole year round and central heating when the temperature drops below a certain point.
Gas is now commonly available in most new buildings and was the go-to option until recently when the drive for greener fuel and increasing energy prices made gas less appealing.
Electricity is a popular choice as it can power different types of heating systems such as convection heaters, boilers and air conditioning systems. Note that air-conditioning systems in Sofia are used to heat as well as cool homes and have a range of -20 to +40 degrees centigrade.
Sofia Property Brokers work with the leading energy efficient power providers in Sofia to give you advice on the most cost-efficient way to heat your home.
Curtain and Blind Installation in Sofia
One thing often overlooked when planning the fixtures and fittings for your new property in Sofia are curtains and blinds.
The choice of blinds or net curtains is frequently determined by the proximity of your neighbours. If they are close by and can see into your home, then it is best to purchase nets as they will increase privacy.
As well as having to look good curtains prove two further functions for your home:
- Help keep your home warm during the cold winter months.
- Block out the light especially if there are streetlights outside as well as in the summer when it gets light very early in the mornings.
Curtains and blinds are often the last things that you will install on your property, but it is important to get the best advice for your requirements. There are many curtain and blind shops in Sofia with hugely varying prices for similar products. Sofia Property Brokers will introduce you to suppliers who provide excellent products and services at very reasonable prices.
Door Selection and Installation in Sofia
Most new properties built in Sofia come without doors so that you can select your preferred designs. Sometimes the builders will offer to install basic doors in your new apartment or house and will provide a credit if you want to select something else.
Many of the shops in Sofia offer a similar range of doors shops but the deciding factor is the quality of installation. You will need experienced door fitters who will measure the exact size of door that you need as each door will be built to requirements. This is especially important if there are no floors laid and consideration must be taken for the tiles or wooden floor the doors will pass over.
You must also decide if you wish for certain doors to open inwards or outwards and, in some cases, to select sliding doors when space is an issue.
Sofia Property Brokers know which door companies offer the best prices and service and will introduce you to them and help you understand the options in plain English.
Buying Lighting and Power Sockets in Sofia
In some cases, your new property will come with power sockets and light switches, but they defiantly will not come with lights.
The choice of lighting will be very personal, but the selection of sockets is more difficult as they must be the right type of socket for the operation. For example, the sockets needed you be:
- For multiple plugs
- For TV and Internet connection
- For dimmer or three-way light switches
All the types of switches that you may require may not be found at one of the large electrical stores, so Sofia Property Broker will introduce you to a hardware shop that you can find most of your small building requirements at a fair price.
Regarding lighting, once again we recommend visiting a specialist lighting store rather than a general hardware store such as Pratika. It is far more convenient to visit our recommended stores during the week to get much better customer service.
Summary When Purchasing New Property in Sofia
Sofia Property Broker are a one-stop real estate agency based in Sofia who will help you with all aspects when purchasing new property in Sofia and provide full property management if required.
