Experiences with Real Estate Agents
As in any profession, there are experts of varying skill and integrity. Our experiences with real estate agents fall neatly into three categories:
The Greedy Ones
These are the hardcore salespeople who only care about closing the deal. Whether the property suits the buyer? Irrelevant. Buyer’s remorse? Not their problem. These folks are laser-focused on one thing: commission. Armed with well-rehearsed sales tactics, they rarely listen, ignore the briefed requirements, and waste everyone’s time with pointless viewings. Whether the client is happy in the end is none of their concern—as long as the monthly quota is met.
This group includes the agents from Engel & Völkers. We gave them three chances. Three strikes, same result. Plus: bold commission terms. With Engel & Völkers, you sign before viewing anything, agreeing to an additional 5% fee. Ironically, these are the very agents currently facing legal trouble for alleged bogus self-employment setups.
The Lazy Ones
We came across quite a few of these, especially in the Caribbean and Spain. We always gave a clear briefing, complete with a wishlist. Yet somehow, despite our wish for a quiet location, we were shown houses next to a motorway. With agents like that, we often didn’t even get out of the car. These folks either lacked ambition—or were simply overwhelmed.
The Wonderful Ones
Yes, they exist too. Rebeca (Compass Group) in Miami was a shining example. We gave her our wishlist, and a few days later, she sent a pre-selection—just to fine-tune. We picked our favourites and shortly after, we had viewings. Almost all of them were spot-on. Even the negotiation focused on our interests—not the developer’s or the seller’s. Evaluating price vs. value was part of the process—something completely absent in the previous two categories.
Online Platforms
Websites like Idealista include both private and commercial listings. But we frequently found that the advertised properties didn’t actually exist—or weren’t built yet. Frustrating, because such projects can take years to materialise.
The Third Way: New Builds with a general contractor
We felt the real estate market on the Costa Blanca is fairly limited. Most homes are classic Spanish builds—heavy on materials. We were after something modern: solar-powered, built with contemporary materials, and tailored to our needs. So, we didn’t find our match through a traditional agent, but through a developer broker. It was more of a matchmaking service, presumably commission-based behind the scenes, but invisible to us as clients.
We skipped the middleman on an early stage and dealt directly with general contractors. We met three of them—each showed us available plots and discussed possible designs. In some cases, building permits had already been filed, limiting modifications to within the outer walls. In our case, we co-designed everything with our contractor according to the building regulations and they applied for the permit on our behalf.
For a new build, a general contractor was the only viable option for us—someone who could handle everything from A to Z. That’s mainly because we’re away for long stretches and (still) don’t speak enough Spanish to sort out all the details ourselves. Our final choice was the zSanchez in Denia. To be continued.
Tips for Dealing with Agents:
Provide a written briefing with your needs, ideally prioritised: Must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal-breakers.
Define your budget. Most agents will aim for the upper limit, assuming there’s room to stretch.
Do your own research on price levels, side costs, taxes, and quality of life (e.g. water access, waste management, infrastructure). Only then can you judge an agent’s advice properly.
Get all key promises from the agent in writing. Also, settle the terms in advance.
Most listings are not exclusive, which creates pressure for agents and calls for clear communication from you.
If something important is said during a viewing—get it confirmed in writing.