Buyer's agent: why it makes sense (especially from abroad)

Almost every listing you see was placed by the seller's agent — paid to sell that house, at the best price, for the owner. The obvious question: so who is on your side?

What a buyer's agent is

A professional who represents the buyer, not the property. They have no house to "push" on you; they have your brief to satisfy. They search the whole market — including deals that never reach the portals — and they also tell you when a house isn't worth it.

What they actually do

• Set the brief with you: area, budget, type, goal (to live or to invest).
• Search and filter — saving you dozens of pointless viewings.
• Verify paperwork, true market price and warning signs before you get attached.
• Negotiate on your side — not the side that wants the highest price.
• See it through to the deed, with the lawyer and the bank.

Why it makes even more sense from abroad

If you're buying from another country, you can't view everything, and you don't know the local traps. Having someone you trust on the ground — who makes honest videos, confirms what the brochure won't say and represents your interests — is the difference between buying well and buying blind.

If nobody at the table works for you, price isn't the only risk you're taking.

And who pays?

It depends on the agreement — in many cases the commission is shared between the parties in the transaction; in others it's agreed with you directly upfront. What there should never be is ambiguity: ask, and put in writing, who pays what. Transparency is the minimum.

Next

See how to decide between Gaia and Porto, understand the buying process end to end, and see how we work.