Working with agents and brokers
How the market works, who is actually representing you, and what to agree before you start looking.
Know who someone is working for
The single most useful question in any property market: who pays this person? An agent introduced by a seller is working for the seller, however helpful they are being to you.
That is not dishonest in itself. It becomes a problem when you assume they are representing your interests and they are not.
Agree the terms before you look
- Who pays the commission, and how much is it?
- Is it a percentage or a fixed fee, and of what exactly?
- When is it payable, and what triggers it?
- Are you committing to work exclusively with this person?
- What happens if you find something yourself?
Signs of someone worth working with
- They ask about your situation before showing you anything
- They tell you when something is wrong for you
- They put things in writing without being pushed
- They welcome your lawyer and your verification
- They are willing to say 'I don't know, let me check'
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and costs in Egypt change. Before you commit to anything, confirm the current position with a qualified professional acting for you.
Read next
- How Stayza verifies what it tells you
- Scams and red flagsHow people get caught, and the signs that come first.
- Buying property in Egypt, step by stepThe process, the paperwork, and where it tends to go wrong.
- How renting in Egypt actually worksContracts, deposits, and what to ask before you pay anything.
- Compare the areas of CairoWho each area suits, who it does not, and what it is like to live there.
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