The quickest and easiest way to find your next home or office is to use a local real estate company. They will have the best knowledge of the market prices as well as what properties are available in the areas you are seeking. They can also advise you on the best areas of Tripoli in terms of safety and accessibility to shopping and restaurants. In order to make the best use of your time with the agents, however, keep in mind these following three tips:
1. Clearly discuss with the agent what you are looking for.
Nothing is more frustrating than being taken to see properties that are either too small or too expensive. Try to specify for the agent exactly what you would like. The more information that you provide for him or her, the more productive your time will be once you are out seeing potential rentals.
Ask to see if the real estate agent has pictures of their listings or of sample properties. Especially if you are new to Libya, this will give you an idea of what the typical apartment, villa or office looks like in order to help you decide what best fits your needs and desires!
2. Ask about all commissions and fees.
Make sure that you are fully informed of all the costs that you will face in renting the property, in addition to the rent that you will pay to the owner. Ask what the agent’s commission is as well as whether there are any additional taxes due or costs for writing the rental contract that you are responsible to pay.
3. Be ready to make the deal.
Libya is currently facing a shortage in available housing. Properties do not tend to stay on the market for very long. For this reason, if you are serious about finding a property we advise you to be ready to sign a contract and secure the rental. In order to be ready, bring your passport as well as a photocopy of the photo page in your passport. Also, try to be sure that you have the funds accessible to pay for the rent. If you don’t have enough for the whole year or for six months (depending on the length of your contract), bring at least enough to make a security deposit showing your serious intention to rent the property. Too many times we have seen properties with clients who find what they are looking for but end up losing out because another agent brings someone and rents the property while they are taking the time to think about it.