Selling an apartment has its own specifics compared to selling a city flat, since buyers of apartments in tourist destinations often look at rental potential, not just personal use. Hermes Nekretnine helps apartment owners achieve a realistic price by presenting both the residential and investment value of the property.
The price of an apartment is most influenced by distance from the sea or the main tourist attraction, the floor it's on, whether it has a balcony or terrace with a view, and the quality of shared amenities such as a pool, lift or parking. Apartments in the first row by the sea or with a direct sea view regularly achieve 20 to 40 percent higher prices per square metre than identical units just a few streets further inland, so we always analyse location in detail before proposing an asking price. Price also depends on the building's condition and amenities, and any proven rental income history if the apartment was previously used for tourist rental.
Apartments on tourist locations show pronounced seasonality in demand. Buyers most often view properties in spring and early summer, when they can immediately picture how the coming season's holiday or rental will look, while the winter period is typically quieter for viewings, though sale contracts can still be concluded year-round. If you're planning a sale, we recommend the listing be live from early in the year so we have time to generate interest before the peak season.
When preparing an apartment for sale, we pay special attention to details that signal to buyers that the property is well maintained: the condition of the air conditioning, whether the shutters or blinds function properly, the state of the bathroom fittings, and the tidiness of shared building areas such as the stairwell and lift. If the apartment is sold furnished, we advise that the furniture and decor be in a condition matching buyer expectations, since furnished apartments often attract investors planning to start renting it out immediately.
Since a large share of apartment buyers come from abroad and often can't visit for a viewing right away, professional presentation is crucial. Besides interior photos, we include shots of the view from the apartment, the building facade, shared amenities such as the pool or garden, and the distance to the beach, shops and restaurants. A video walkthrough and 3D floor plan further help foreign buyers make a decision without needing multiple trips.
We start with a valuation and a review of the title deed and any encumbrances, followed by creating the listing and launching a marketing campaign. After the first viewings and offers received, we help you negotiate the price and terms, then coordinate the preliminary contract, deposit payment, and finally the signing of the sale contract with a notary. We follow the entire process through to the handover of keys and the final registration of the ownership change in the land registry.
If the apartment has active guest bookings at the time of sale, the contract clearly defines whether the bookings will be transferred to the new owner with appropriate financial compensation, or whether the seller will cancel the bookings before handover. This situation is common with apartments actively rented out through online platforms, so we transparently present the status of all future bookings to buyers in advance to avoid any misunderstanding after the purchase.
When selling an apartment that was used for rental, it's important to consider any tax obligations related to declared tourist rental income, which can affect the documentation needed for the sale. Also, if the apartment was purchased less than two years ago, a property transfer tax may apply to the sale, so we recommend consulting an accountant or tax advisor before finalising your sale strategy.
A significant share of buyers of apartments on the Croatian coast come from Germany, Austria, Slovenia and other European countries, meaning our listings need to be accessible and understandable to foreigners too. That's why we present every property in multiple languages, communicate with foreign buyers by email and video call, and, if needed, help them arrange travel to Croatia for viewings and contract signing.
Buyers often ask about the monthly building maintenance fee, whether there is a building manager and how much their services cost, and whether a parking space is included in the price or purchased separately. Many also want to know whether the apartment is suitable for year-round living or intended purely for seasonal use, which affects the interest of different buyer profiles.
Apartments within residential complexes with a professional manager often carry extra value for investors, since the manager already has an established system for maintenance, cleaning and potentially renting out units. For such properties we check the terms of cooperation with the manager, the fee amount and what it covers, and we clearly present this information to potential buyers as it can significantly ease their purchase decision.
Whether you're selling an apartment by the sea, a mountain retreat, or a unit within a tourist complex, our team brings local market knowledge and a network of contacts among domestic and foreign buyers, ensuring a fast and secure sale at the best possible price.