Visiting my old home town in Spain, I was enjoying a cerveza at my favourite bar when an ex-neighbour came up and introduced to me to the couple who had bought my old house.
Polite conversation continued and I just had to say, 'you got a bargain there mate', because they had haggled and haggled and knocked down the price until I couldn't be arsed to argue anymore, and just wanted to walk away, it is only money after all. And then they told me how much they had loved it a first sight, and how pleased they were that I had accpeted their offer of 78,000. I was gobsmacked, the estate agents told me that their final offer was 69,900 euros, and that is what i accepted, and that is what i received, =minus the FIVE THOUSAND euros the self same estate agents had charged me for selling the house.
so they got 13,000 euros for selling my house. I am not alone again and again I hear similar complaints.
Estate agents arranging for work for their friends, over priced work, poorly done.
Estate agents introducing you to spivs and conmen.
Estate agents turning a blind eye to dodgy deals just to get a sale, so the buyer buys a pup, and the seller gets rinsed.
When the sale has been agreed magically the furntiure included changes into tired sofa beds and broken TVs.
Please remember this is not the UK, there is no association of estate agents, no rules, not enforced ethics. Ther is just someone trying to sell, someone trying to buy, and more often than not a rank amateur with no ethics being the middle man or woman.
Never EVER give them power of attorney, it will be cheaper, and safer, to fly over to sign papers, and funds can be transferred online. Do not give them access to you money!
Yes they smile, but they are not your friend.
Now I know that there must be some good estae agents out there, it is just that the best one I have ever met was only incompetent, not the usual both incompetent and corrupt.
It makes me so grumpy.