"Like to the spirit" or "as to the spirit

In our time, when borders are blurring, the world is becoming more compact, and people freely travel and relocate, the profession of a real estate agent becomes more relevant than ever. Indeed, many people own property not only in their native country but also abroad, and often more than one. However, not everyone is obliged to know the laws, market, and intricacies of transactions in different countries, and it's physically challenging as well. 

This is where the problem of finding a competent agent, either specializing in international real estate or in the real estate of the country where the property is being acquired, comes to the forefront

The most significant misconception, perhaps, is that the more agencies work for you simultaneously, the more effective the work will be. It won't; it will be chaotic. And nothing but chaos. I won't go into detail in this article about the principles of choosing an agency from all the offers on the market. You can seek recommendations or have a conversation with an agent, asking them the right questions about their working strategy according to your request, the market situation, request a consultation on the legal aspects of the transaction... Usually, after such a conversation, it becomes clear how professional and suitable the agent is for you. So, the choice is made. There's no need to rush to the second, third, or tenth agency just "in case." Professional agents monitor the entire market, have extensive knowledge about areas, prices, and offers, and they also have a developed network of partners. Therefore, working on all fronts like this will inevitably lead to your agents (in plural) eventually "colliding."

There won't be any quarrels, of course.

Today, good agents perceive each other as colleagues, not competitors. And during regular work, it could happen that one agent seeks help from another, but that's internal affairs. However, such unplanned and unforeseen collisions, when suddenly it turns out that two, three, or even more agencies are working for one client, for one request, evoke unpleasant feelings of wasted time and effort. Also, think about the property owner who might be bothered multiple times, only to find out that there's just one buyer. This undermines trust primarily in the client. If it happens that you are working with several agencies, be straightforward about it. Perhaps your agents already have partnership relations and could combine their efforts for your request instead of engaging in meaningless competition.

The second mistake is the unintentional provision of inaccurate information.

Here, as when visiting a doctor, it's crucial to describe the "symptoms" as accurately as possible. Provide complete information about what you are looking for: the area, size, type, wallpaper color, the number of trees in the garden – absolutely everything that matters to you, plus, of course, the budget – real and honest. Let the professional judge the possibility or impossibility of fulfilling such a request. Don't overestimate or underestimate your expectations at this stage. During further work, you'll probably have to let go of some secondary requirements. The crystallization of the dream is a long process; only through it can even the client understand what they are willing to compromise on and what they will stand firm on until the end.

The third mistake is deliberate distortion of information.

Imagine a situation where you call an ambulance and claim to be having a heart attack. They hospitalize you, conduct a full examination, run tests, only to find out that you are perfectly healthy. It's just that there have been cases of heart attacks in your family, and you wanted to reassure yourself and make sure everything was okay. Absurd? Absolutely. If you have concerns about a predisposition to a heart attack, you make a planned appointment with a cardiologist, who will give you all the information you need about preventing the disease clearly and professionally. You don't bother ambulance workers, hospital staff, resuscitation teams, laboratory technicians, and other healthcare workers who could be saving the life of a real patient at that moment.

What often happens in real estate? Suppose you are not ready (for various reasons, mostly financial) to buy property now. Maybe you are waiting for a successful deal, return on investments, the death of a beloved grandmother, and the inheritance... There are many options, but what unites them is that you are unsure when and in what amount the finances will come into your possession. Or you are sure, but this inflow is very delayed in time. However, it's human nature to dream. You already want to "try on" the status of a homeowner, gather information, study the market. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that; moreover, a professional agent will gladly satisfy your curiosity, provide detailed consultation, and even make a preliminary selection of properties with photos.

BUT! It's not advisable to come to the agency pretending to be a client ready to buy today, but it's better to have been ready yesterday. Be honest about what and when you expect.

And all these years until your dream comes true, the agent will remain loyal. A professional won't forget about you; they'll answer your questions, suggest interesting options, keep you informed about market changes—ultimately, by the time the deal is made, you'll have a specialist with whom you've built a trusting relationship. However, it's worth considering that the market is dynamic, and with such long-term deals, the house you liked five years ago might not be available when you're ready. But months or even years of working side by side with an agent will allow them to feel and understand your desires as their own, making it easier for them to find you something equally or sometimes even more valuable by the time the deal is closed. However, forcing an agent to organize viewings and prepare documents for a deal that inherently cannot take place is at least unethical and ineffective.

The fourth mistake is the lack of feedback.

Agents are often good psychologists but not mind readers. Without feedback from you, no professional will find you the home of your dreams. When contacting an agency, expect, first and foremost, to work together. In the initial conversation, it's impossible to clarify all the nuances and preferences; they usually come up after the first or second selection of properties. Therefore, it's essential for the agent to hear your comments. Of course, people are busy, but no one asks you to spend hours on the phone with your agent. Sometimes it's enough to send a couple of offers to adjust the direction of the search. Ultimately, you can agree in advance with the agent on the method, time, and frequency of communication. A professional agent's goal is not to bombard you with spam and bury you in a heap of unnecessary information, but your silence often leads the agent to make one selection after another, shooting randomly and not always in the right direction. A few words can significantly save time for both you and your agent.

The fifth mistake is secrecy bordering on paranoia.

Imagine a situation where a doctor, gathering medical history, asks you about your age, and you respond rudely that it's none of his business and the information is confidential. However, with a slight adjustment for the real estate sphere, it often turns out this way. A client wishing to invest several million euros in foreign real estate says their name is Vasya, and the rest is none of your business. Unfortunately, this is a misconception. You can't just come to Europe with a suitcase of money and easily buy whatever you want. At the initial stage, you'll need to provide at least your full name, nationality, residency information, and, possibly, your occupation if the transaction funding is related to your business. The agent collects this information not to create a dossier on you and use it for selfish purposes. In European countries, without registering the client with their full name, it's impossible even to make an inquiry to the property owner. And when it comes to a million-dollar deal, or even several million, you'll need to confirm the origin and cleanliness of the funds. Little Europe is very meticulous and wary about money flowing from abroad. The agent won't ask you to provide banking information, but at least from your words, they should have reliable information about how you have funds available for purchase.

Other questions may arise during the process. The main thing to remember is that these questions are asked not out of personal curiosity. The agent isn't planning to visit you, be friends with your families, or remember your dog's name, but if questions arise, it means the answers are necessary or will help in further work.

In conclusion, trust and honesty are the keys to a successful deal. Agents aren't afraid of complicated transactions but really dislike deliberate withholding of information or confusing the situation. In general, approach an agent as you would a doctor—entrust the diagnosis to the professional.