Finca Aprobada (verified finca) is a seal we grant when we have verified that the finca exists, that the photos are of it and that the person listing it is the person who manages it. A finca is a country house rented whole, usually with a pool, for a group or a family. The seal costs COP 439,900 a year and lasts twelve months. It is a scarce seal: only a small share of the fincas listed for rent have it.
What exactly do we verify?
Three things, in this order.
That the finca exists and is where it says. A confirmed location, not just the municipality.
That the photos are of that finca. The most common fraud with fincas is not the made-up listing. It is the listing with photos of another property, almost always a nicer one. You arrive and the pool is half the size, or there is none.
That the person listing it is the person who manages it. Name, cédula (national ID) or NIT (tax ID), and a phone number that answers. We don't verify that they are the owner on the deed, because many fincas are managed by a relative or a third party. We verify that they answer for it.
What the seal does not do: it is not a guarantee that you'll like it, a quality rating or insurance. An approved finca can have lukewarm water and slow wifi. What the seal says is that what you see in the listing matches what you will find.
How much does it cost and how long does it last?
COP 439,900 for twelve months. It is paid once a year and is not prorated. If you renew before it expires, the months you had left are added to the new year: you don't lose what you already paid.
That is a little more than four times the price of listing, which is COP 99,900 a year. It is worth saying that plainly, because it is the first thing everyone asks.
What changes when you have it?
Three things change, and they are certain because they are in the code:
- An approved finca ranks higher in search results. The ordering puts featured and approved fincas first, then the rest by date.
- It carries the seal visibly on its listing page and on every result card.
- It is included on the approved fincas page, which is where we send people who write to us asking how to rent without taking a risk.
What they won't tell you
If your finca isn't getting contacts, the seal won't save it.
When a finca goes months without a call, it is almost always for the same three reasons: the first photo is dark or shows the gate instead of the pool, the description doesn't say how many bedrooms and bathrooms there are, or the phone number listed no longer belongs to anyone.
None of the three costs COP 439,900. They cost an afternoon. Fix them first. If after that you are still getting less than you expected, then the seal does have something to work with, because the problem is no longer your listing: you are competing with many similar fincas in the same municipality and you need something that sets you apart.
And since few fincas have the seal, it still does that.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a finca for sale approved?
No. The seal is only for rentals. A finca for sale gets visited before it is bought, with a lawyer and a title search, so verifying the photos doesn't address the risk that matters in that transaction.
How long does approval take?
Two to five business days from when we receive the documents. If the finca is already listed with its own photos, it is usually faster.
What happens when it expires?
The seal disappears from the listing page and the finca goes back to the normal search order. The listing stays published as long as your annual listing fee is up to date. We let you know before it expires.
What if I change the photos after approval?
You can change them. If the new photos don't match the verified finca, we remove the seal. That is the only thing that keeps the seal meaningful.
Want the seal? Start with how to get your finca approved.
Keep reading: how much you can charge for your finca and how to rent a finca without getting scammed.