Claro AI: site selection in Spain and Germany from a plain-words brief
Claro is CASAFARI’s AI search agent for commercial premises across Spain and Germany, as well as commercial plots in Germany. An expansion manager submits a brief in plain English and receives an exact count of matching properties alongside a shortlisted report where every criterion is marked met, not met or not stated, backed by listing quotes. In a Madrid and Barcelona restaurant search, 2,296 premises were screened to deliver six ranked candidates.
What a burger chain’s brief for Madrid and Barcelona came back with
When a UK or international chain plans its expansion into continental Europe, site selection often begins with a specific brief: exact size range, frontage, extraction requirements, rent ceiling and footfall expectations. Traditionally, matching that brief against local markets required sifting through hundreds of inconsistent portal exports. In an example report generated by Claude using the Claro connector on 16 October 2026, an expansion manager submitted a natural-language brief for smash-burger restaurant premises across Madrid and Barcelona.
Claro screened 2,296 premises across both metropolitan areas and returned an exact ranked shortlist of six candidates. Rather than vague summaries, the output detailed precise criteria matching for every property. Each requirement—such as ground-floor layout, licence status or smoke extraction—was marked as met, not met or not stated, accompanied by direct quotes from the underlying listings.
For international readers expanding into Spain, the report highlighted a crucial commercial detail: key money (traspaso). In Spanish commercial leasing, key money is an upfront premium requested by the landlord or outgoing tenant for a prime location, paid in addition to monthly rent. This practice directly affects upfront capital expenditure and is rarely encountered in standard UK leases. Claro identifies key money directly from listing data whenever stated, helping expansion teams structure realistic property budgets before committing local resources. Expansion teams can inspect the full example reports, including Madrid and Barcelona smash burgers and the German Kfz plots in our technical documentation. The same reports, with their screenshots and code samples, are also in the public casafari/casafari-mcp repository on GitHub.
How does Claro turn a plain-words brief into a shortlist?
Setting up a search in Claro requires no structured query building or complex database filters. An expansion manager simply provides the brief in plain language, specifying target criteria such as size bands, frontage width, intended use (restaurant, gym, retail or warehouse), rent ceilings, target streets, adjacent anchor tenants, terrace space or ceiling heights.
Claro processes these parameters directly against the CASAFARI property graph, which consolidates deduplicated, cleaned data covering residential and commercial properties for sale and rent across 16 countries (US: entering now, selected states, commercial real estate only, via Claro AI). Every real estate unit is tracked as a single, canonical record complete with full price and listing status histories.
When evaluating a brief, Claro applies strict verification rules without making assumptions:
- Met: The listing explicitly states text confirming the brief requirement, accompanied by the literal quote.
- Not met: The listing’s own text contradicts a brief requirement (for instance, it says the unit has no smoke outlet when the brief requires one).
- Not stated: The listing source does not explicitly confirm or deny the feature.
To complement listing data, location context is integrated from Location Intelligence. CASAFARI acquired Berlin-based location analytics platform Targomo on 19 September 2023, as reported by Tech.eu and detailed in our article on how CASAFARI brought Targomo’s location data in-house. This integration provides footfall indices within a 5-minute walk, local demographic counts and purchasing power metrics, all accompanied by source attribution and vintage dates. Because every detail carries documented evidence, expansion managers can present defended site shortlists directly to investment committees.
Commercial plots in Germany: six of 1,279 for a network of vehicle test centres
Site selection requirements vary significantly between high-street retail and industrial user types. In a separate report from October 2026, Claro evaluated commercial plots (Gewerbegrundstücke) across Germany for a network of vehicle inspection stations (Kfz test centres) requiring plot sizes between 1,500 m² and 6,000 m².
From a total pool of 1,279 commercial plots meeting the size requirements, Claro shortlisted six optimal sites, scoring each candidate out of 100 within the report’s custom ranking model. For plot acquisitions, criteria shift away from pedestrian footfall towards spatial configuration, industrial zoning permissions, highway accessibility and street visibility.
It is worth noting the current geographic scope: Claro covers commercial premises (shops, offices, restaurant premises and warehouses) for rent or sale across Spain and Germany, alongside commercial plots exclusively in Germany.
Fitness clubs and large-box units: when the shortlist is seven of 483
Large-format retail and leisure operators encounter distinct location constraints. In two further example reports from October 2026, Claro tackled large-box expansion briefs:
- Fitness chain expansion: Screened 483 matching premises across 45 municipalities in Madrid and Barcelona, narrowing the pool to seven top-ranked candidates.
- Large-box fitness search: Evaluated units between 1,200 m² and 3,000 m², identifying four qualified options from 197 initial matches.
Understanding total market supply across 45 municipalities helps expansion directors gauge regional site availability before committing capital. For broader market analysis, such as evaluating network gaps in Palma or reviewing rental yields across Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearics, teams often combine Claro search reports with market analytics from Area Insights. To explore how intelligent search transforms portfolio strategy, read our analysis of agentic AI for global networks.
Claro app or Claro in Claude and ChatGPT: which door?
Claro offers three distinct access methods depending on how your team operates:
- The Claro app: Available at the Claro app, offering a dedicated web interface for expansion managers to run searches and export site dossiers.
- The Claro MCP server: Hosted at the Claro MCP server address for analysts who work within Claude (claude.ai, Claude Desktop, mobile) or ChatGPT (Developer mode).
- The Claro REST API: Offering 12 API endpoints for technical teams building proprietary site-selection software.
Connecting the MCP server requires no complex API key handling. Users connect via Streamable HTTP and authenticate securely through browser-based OAuth 2.1, which issues a session access token upon logging in. First-time users are automatically onboarded onto the Free plan without needing a credit card. Exploring CASAFARI MCP, property data for AI agents and reading how to connect a CASAFARI MCP server in Claude, ChatGPT or any MCP client provides complete setup instructions.
What Claro costs, in tokens
All activity across the CASAFARI platform is billed in usage tokens:
- Free plan: Includes 1,000 tokens valid for 30 days upon registration, with no credit card required.
- Agent plan: Available at EUR 49 per month (billed annually) or EUR 70 month-to-month (excluding VAT).
- Custom plans: Tailored by contract for high-volume enterprise expansion teams.
Additional usage can be topped up using prepaid credits. Furthermore, place lookups through Location Lookup cost 0 tokens. For complete pricing tiers, consult current plans and token prices in our technical FAQ or speak with our team through CASAFARI for Business Expansion.
Where to start if your next sites are in Spain or Germany
To evaluate potential retail or commercial locations across Spain or Germany, simply paste your existing site specification brief into the Claro app. Alternatively, sign in to the CASAFARI platform to connect the MCP server directly within Claude or ChatGPT. For custom integrations and full API documentation, review the Claro developer documentation or contact our specialists via CASAFARI for Business Expansion.
Frequently asked questions
How do retail and restaurant chains find commercial premises in Spain?
Traditionally, retail and restaurant chains rely on local estate agents, portal exports and bespoke consultancy studies per city. With Claro, expansion managers submit their brief in plain English to receive an exact count and a ranked shortlist of commercial premises for rent or sale across Spain. Every criterion is marked as met, not met or not stated, supported directly by listing quotes—such as screening 2,296 premises down to six ranked candidates for a Madrid and Barcelona smash-burger search in October 2026.
What is key money (traspaso) on a commercial lease in Spain?
Key money (traspaso) in Spain is an upfront premium paid on top of monthly rent, typically to the outgoing tenant, to secure a commercial lease in prime retail or restaurant locations. This payment significantly impacts the initial capital budget required for expansion. Claro highlights key money directly from listing details whenever stated, ensuring teams factor these terms into their financial planning alongside guidance from local legal counsel.
Can I search commercial property listings with Claude or ChatGPT?
Yes, you can connect your AI assistant directly to real estate data using the Claro MCP server at platform.casafari.com/mcp/claro. By setting up a custom connector in Claude or ChatGPT and signing in via OAuth 2.1 in your browser, your AI assistant gains live access to commercial listings. The Free plan provides 1,000 tokens for 30 days without requiring a payment card, while the same search engine is available in the browser via the Claro app.
Does Claro find commercial plots in Germany as well as premises?
Yes, Claro searches commercial premises across both Spain and Germany, as well as commercial plots (Gewerbegrundstücke) specifically within Germany. For example, an October 2026 search screened 1,279 German commercial plots for a vehicle inspection network, shortlisting six candidates scored out of 100 based on site size, zoning and access. Claro does not currently cover plots or premises in other countries.
How much does Claro by Casafari cost?
Usage across Claro is billed in tokens. The Free plan offers 1,000 tokens for 30 days with no credit card required. The Agent plan costs EUR 49 per month billed annually (or EUR 70 month-to-month) ex VAT, with extra usage available through prepaid credits and place lookups via Location Lookup costing 0 tokens as of October 2026. Enterprise teams requiring custom terms or high-volume workflows can arrange dedicated contracts through CASAFARI for Business Expansion.