Why we chose Yalikavak, Bodrum
An Article by John & Jane
Over the years we have visited many places from India to the Caribbean. But the first time to Turkey for us was about 13 years ago when we stayed in an all-inclusive hotel in Yalikavak.
In 2004 we did something we don’t normally do and decided to holiday for a second time in Yalikavak. That holiday was to be a life changing experience; after 2 weeks in Yalikavak we loved it so much we didn’t want to go home. On the day before we were due to return to the UK we saw a villa for sale and fell in love with it…
The decision to buy it took us over a month of weighing up the pros and cons of buying a property in Turkey. Weeks of research into buying in Turkey, followed by a return visit to check the property and start the legal process and appoint a power of attorney....
As the villa was only partially completed, we had to decide kitchen layout, pick bathroom fittings, choose tiles, doors and pick the colour scheme.
The builder was fantastic; everything was finished on time and to a very high standard of workmanship. On handover there were only five minor problems, the most serious was a leaking tap.
We may have been luckier than some people but if you check out a finished house and speak to others you will have a better idea of how reliable your builder is. You have to remember that building standards are different to UK standards; the plumbing is strange with solar panels and electric boilers fitted for use when the sun doesn’t shine.
So why did we choose the Bodrum area, because of the friendliness of the people, the sunshine and the food.
Did we make the right decision? Definitely.
Advice for people who are considering buying in the Bodrum area is;
- Pick your location carefully; think about how convenient it is for transport and that it is not too steep if you have a mobility problem.
- Do you want to rent it out or is it going to be a family home, if you are renting it out income will be more important than location.
- Speak to other people who have bought property in the area for their advice.
- Don’t forget to include site maintenance costs if you are on a communal site, these are often low for the first year but then increase substantially in later years.
- Check out your builder carefully and only pay a small deposit, make it part of your contract that the final payment is only made when you have your TAPU and Habitation Certificate.
- Finally, enjoy your experience of living in Bodrum Turkey!