The quick answer to this question is more often than not – differently to the UK. The one thing you simply must bear in mind is that you are not buying in the UK. You cannot travel abroad and expect everything to be the same, and this applies to estate agents too.

So…what can you expect from an estate agent in Greece?

For starters, one thing that is different is estate agent’s commission. You will find that Greek estate agents charge more than their UK counterparts, and, unlike the UK where the buyer doesn’t pay agent’s commission, in Greece they do. Agent’s commission (generally 2 to 5 per cent plus VAT) is paid by both the vendor and the buyer. This fee may be included in the purchase price but you need to check on this upfront. 

As in the UK, you can book viewing days with agents and/or developers and then go ahead and plan your trip according to the area you are interested in. Unlike the UK however, estate agents are happy to pick you up at your hotel/where ever you are staying and to drive you around from property to property. Given the high cost of petrol this is one very good reason for the increased agent’s fees.

You need to bear in mind that property professionals are unbelievably busy during the summer as every tourist, after a few glasses of wine or Ozo, decides they want to own their own piece of Greek property! And of course it costs nothing to look…so agents are really stretched during the summer months of May to September. You would be wise to set up appointments well in advance – this will also show that you are a genuine buyer as opposed to someone just whiling away an afternoon and wasting the agent’s time. You may receive better service if you visit in the quieter months but you will need to arrange this in advance as many agents take a break over the winter months.

Remember, more than one agent may have the same house on their books - and at a different price. Do a bit of research before you go out to Greece and compare prices if you can. Once you have seen a home with an agent in Greece, and signed to that effect, you are obliged to buy through that agent, even if you find the property cheaper elsewhere. I recently had an irate email from a buyer confirming this. He returned to Corfu having viewed properties some months previously, purchased a house he had seen before and was presented with a commission bill from the agent he first saw the house with – ouch! 

A good estate agent will do more than just sell you a property. They should be able to advise you on all sorts of matters, from where to get a mortgage to where the best schools are. They should be able to advise you for instance on whether or not you can get earthquake insurance cover on a resale property or if you can prove that it has been built to anti-seismic standards.

Most agents can help you arrange insurance, utilities, interior decorators and builders. They should also be able to offer help and advice on obtaining planning permission and permits for new buildings or restoration projects, but bear in mind that you need to check this out with a ‘mechanikos politikos’ or an architect licensed to survey. Most agents can also recommend a lawyer, but you would be wise to either insist on client recommendations too or retain your own, independent lawyer to ensure that there is no conflict of interest.

Many agents are also able to help with construction and restoration services; the agent I met recently on Rhodes for instance project-manages a number of restoration and building projects on behalf of people he sold the properties to. Many estate agents may also offer a full management and rental service for non-resident owners.

Estate agents in Greece must hold a valid estate agents licence – and that includes non-resident estate agents. Licences are issued by the Athens Vocational Chamber, which keeps an Estate Agent’s Register. To obtain a licence, the agency owner must have clean European financial and criminal records and be educated to a certain level. They must also have a registered estate agency office, be registered as an employer and pay full Greek National Insurance for themselves and their workers.

Unlicensed agents - some of whom advertise in the glossy Greek and English magazines - cannot meet these strict requirements, or wish to operate illegally in order to avoid tax. They are those friendly folk who bump into you on the ferry to Kefalonia (in my case!!) and who have this magnificent property going for an absolute song – yeah right…! Many foreign buyers have been caught like this - PLEASE don’t be one of them. 

Here are a couple of associations that a Greek estate agent can join: if possible choose an agent who is a member of least one of them:

Association of International Property Professionals

International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI)

Hellenic Association of Realtors (HAR)

European Confederation of Estate Agents (CEI).

Federation of Greek Real Estate Agents

Good luck with your property journey. Many expats now own property in Greece and have had happy buying experiences – you can be one of them. Choose your estate agent wisely and carefully and you should have no problems.