ISLAND NEWS
19
JUNE 2023
WE TALK TO JO LAFOSSE AT
CASAS EN MENORCA ISABEL PETRUS FOUNDER
CASAS EN MENORCA
Casas en Menorca is an estate agency combining more than 40 years of experience in real estate on the island with Isabel Petrus at the helm. It is very much a family company, as Isabel’s son Dino and two of her nieces, Teresa and Virginia, also work there today. The CasasenMenorca.com brand came to fruition as a result of the transformation and improvement of the estate agency Oliver Mateu at the beginning of the 1990s. Isabel took over and with hard work and determination developed it into the company it is today. In 2012, CasasenMenorca.com took an important step forward, rebranding the company with a new image and a comprehensive customer support service, distinguishing itself as a pioneer on the island. One notable achievement was the assessment and subsequent successful sale of the Sant Lluis Industrial Estate. Despite some challenging times particularly during this period, the commitment and trust that we transmit to our clients has placed us at the forefront of the industry in the number of successful operations carried out.
5 OFFICES WITH AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM Clients who choose to work with us benefit from a comprehensive service that encompasses everything related to real estate from our international team. Due to the size of the company, the number of offices and our marketing power, we have an extensive portfolio of clients of various nationalities. Currently (at the time of this going to press) we have a team of 12 specialised real estate advisors, each one dedicated to their own clientele, whether it be due to the languages they speak or the area or type of property they want to buy or sell. Our team are trained in sales and customer service and make it their business to really know the properties that we are selling to create a close working relationship with our clients.
The expertise of our in-house marketing department, photographer and videographer, and the array of different marketing tools available to us, means that properties are positioned in segmented markets in order to increase the success from our campaigns. We carry out specific marketing for each property and this is also sorted by country. We do not underestimate the importance of having a physical office. In marketing terms, it is an invaluable tool being able to promote our properties in our 5 shop windows around the island. Even in this age of internet, email, QR codes and WhatsApps, you’d be surprised how many people want to come in and meet us in person. It gives them security and they can see for themselves what Casasenmenorca.com is all about, particularly in our main office in Plaza Real, Mahon. Our clients are always really (pleasantly) surprised to see the size of the support team behind the name. Personal service is of paramount importance to us. Our support team consists of our legal and administrative team, and also our secretarial support. They are the cogs in the wheel or the unsung heroes of the company, checking documentation, preparing and reviewing contracts and liaising with lawyers, architects and notaries to mention just a few. They ensure that every single transaction runs smoothly from start to finish, allowing the real estate advisors to concentrate on our clients. We also have a tax advisor available to our vendors and buyers, so that our clients can be fully aware of what taxes they will incur and there are no nasty surprises. In addition, a dedicated member of staff arranges the change of name on the utilities. This might not sound very important, but it’s taking care of all the details that really counts. In summary, the service we offer is seamless from start to finish, and our online reviews stand testament to the fact that our clients truly value the services which we offer. For us, the most important thing is is to transmit tranquility and professionalism to our clients, to be transparent so that they have all the information related to the sale in their hands and have peace of mind. In 2022, we completed over 200 real estate transactions, with more than half of our clients coming from foreign countries. We also serve Spanish clients ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
from other regions seeking second homes and properties on the island.
ISABEL’S PASSION FOR THE ARTS Casasenmenorca.com, its brand, reputation, clients and team are always at the forefront of Isabel’s mind. She truly is an inspirational figurehead of the company whom we all admire and look up to. She looks after and nurtures her team, and she finds solutions to problems, just two of the many reasons why the company thrives. Her family is extremely important to her, and she is passionate about the arts, culture and literature. Her love of the arts has led to a long-established collaboration with the Theatre Principal and the Union Football Club in Mahon, where CasasenMenorca.com is a patron. More recently the company has started supporting and working with Hestia Menorca, the basketball team.
THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING TEAM AT CASAS EN MENORCA The company has always been well known in the local and national market, but since Isabel took on native British, French and Italian team members we have, over the last 5 years, tripled the number of international clients and the number of operations carried out with international buyers. There are now three of us who are dedicated to working with English speaking clients, myself and Beth in the main Mahon office next to the American Bar, and Irene in our Es Castell office. Like me, Beth is originally from the UK but she came here with her family when she was just 5 years old and went to school and grew up in Menorca, whereas I moved here when I was 28. Irene was born in Menorca, so she has all the inside knowledge on the island, and she has a lot of contacts here which always helps in this business. Many people know her from her time as mayoress of Es Castell. Irene manages our Es Castell office and speaks perfect English. Contact: Casasenmenorca has offices in Mahon, Ciutadella, Es Castell and Alaior. www.Casasenmenorca.com info@casasenmenorca.com
