Selling a property in Uruguay from abroad
Living abroad with a property in Uruguay raises one practical question: what can be handled remotely, and what genuinely needs somebody here.
What can be handled remotely
The valuation. You do not do it — we do: we visit the property, walk through it, photograph it and send you the real condition and a price range with the reasoning written out. You read it when it suits you.
The listing. Photos, full details, portals and distribution. None of it needs you present.
Viewings. Coordinated and attended here, with buyers filtered beforehand.
Follow-up. A written report of what has happened: enquiries, viewings, what people said.
What needs somebody in Uruguay
Keys. The first thing to sort out and the biggest cause of delay when it is not. Someone you trust who can open the door is enough: a relative, a neighbour, the building manager. If there is nobody, it can be solved another way — but it has to be decided before listing, not when a buyer is already waiting.
The condition of the property. If it has been empty for a while, someone should look at it: damp, leaks, installations. A neglected property shows on the first viewing.
The signing. Two routes: travel, or grant a power of attorney so somebody can sign on your behalf. Which one suits you, how that power is granted and what it requires — especially if signed outside Uruguay — is explained by the notary (escribano). That is their field, not ours, and it is worth asking at the start rather than near the date.
Paperwork, before you start
The notary will ask for the property documentation for the title study. If the property came through an inheritance, if there were building works, or if a document is missing, that is far easier to solve with time and from a distance than with a buyer waiting.
Our advice is simple: before listing, one consultation with a notary to find out what is missing. It is the best-spent hour of the whole process.
The time difference
It sounds like a detail and it is not. A process that depends on calls coordinated across time zones becomes slow and exhausting. That is why we work with written reports and decisions presented with their options: you read them when you can, not when someone is available.
What we do not promise
Timescales that do not depend on us, or prices the market will not support. And if something cannot be done remotely, we say so before starting.
How we work
First we settle three things: who opens the door, how we keep you informed, and what the notary says about your case. With that in place, the rest of the sale works like any other.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to travel in order to sell?
Not necessarily. Many owners travel for the signing anyway, but there is also the option of granting a power of attorney so that someone signs on your behalf. The conditions, the form and where that power is granted are explained by the notary, which is who it corresponds to.
Who opens the door for viewings?
Someone you trust with a key: a relative, a neighbour, the building manager, or the agency. It is the first thing to settle, because without it the property cannot be shown.
Can it be valued without me being there?
Yes. We carry out the valuation: we walk through the property, photograph it and send you the real condition plus a price range with the reasoning written out.
How do I find out what is happening?
With a regular written report: enquiries, viewings and what people said. In writing rather than by call, precisely because of the time difference.
What happens with the money from the sale?
That is a question for the notary and, depending on the case, an accountant or your bank. We do not advise on it, but we will tell you who to speak to before you start, so it does not surface at the end.
Want us to look at your case?
Message us on WhatsApp and we'll reply personally, in English or Spanish.
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- Criterio profesional de Ignacio Brañas, Brañas Negocios Inmobiliarios (se indica como tal en el texto)
General information. It does not replace advice from a Uruguayan notary (escribano) or accountant for your case. Ignacio Brañas has worked in real estate in Montevideo for more than 10 years.