A real estate agent wants to charge us for showing us an apartment. Is that normal?
Readers send their questions to EL PAÍS's housing clinic in collaboration with Legálitas
A couple from Zaragoza inquiring about buying an apartment were told by the agent that their fee would be a percentage of the value or a fixed amount ranging from 5,000 to 9,000 euros plus VAT. The consumer affairs section of El País advises that typically, the seller pays the real estate agency's commission, not the buyer, unless a prior agreement has been made.
Simply viewing the apartment does not imply a contract with the buyer or an obligation to pay the agency's fees. Buyers are advised to carefully review any documents signed during the viewing and request a detailed breakdown of any fees in writing if verbally informed of them.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais Economia's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
