Caring for Your Property While Away

I think that this is an important topic given some of the situations I've heard about in this country. In fact, right now I'm trying to help someone out in a similar situation.

If you own property in Panama (or any other country) just don't tell someone to watch your property and take care of it, especially a local national in a country like Panama. Oh they'll take care of it all right.

Get an attorney and give someone from your country who speaks your language a limited power of attorney to do whatever you need them to do in your absence.

Even if you're selling your house don't give a local national real estate agent rights to take care of your house. What you think is taking care of your house and what they think are taking care of your house will be very different. They'll rent it out and pocket the money, etc, etc

Remember you'll have to pay taxes, water, power, cable, whatever. Make sure they have the power to turn off things like your cable if you don't want it anymore. Make sure they can make repairs, etc.

DO NOT tell a local national, you can stay here just take care of my house and then leave for 10 years.

If you're Canadian try to find a Canadian, From France, find someone from France, make sure they have legal status and a cédula.

Have them take you on live tours of your property with WhatsApp or Signal every month or week. If they say there's a problem look at it live.

You'll save yourself a lot of problems.