How to choose the right estate agent to sell on the Costa Blanca: the questions that matter

Selling a property on the Costa Blanca when you live in the UK, the Netherlands, or anywhere else abroad means handing control of a significant asset to someone you may never meet in person. Choosing the right agency is not simply about finding the lowest commission — it is about finding someone who can actually reach the buyers who are active in this market right now.

Too many sellers make the mistake of going with the first agency that calls, the most familiar name, or the one a friend used years ago. None of those is a reliable guide when the goal is selling at a fair price within a reasonable timeframe.

Your buyer is almost certainly not Spanish

In Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja, the dominant buyer profile is international. British buyers represent a large share of demand, followed by Dutch, Belgian, German, and Scandinavian buyers. Over 37% of registered residents in Torrevieja hold non-Spanish nationality, and in coastal urbanisations the percentage is even higher.

An agency that operates only in Spanish, advertises only on domestic portals like Idealista, and whose team speaks no English, is cutting out the majority of your potential market. The first test for any agency you consider: can they demonstrate that they reach international buyers?

Portals like Rightmove Overseas and Kyero are key channels for British and international demand. If the agency cannot show you their listings on those platforms, that is a meaningful gap.

The languages the team speaks — not just the agent

There is a difference between an agent who speaks conversational English and an agency that operates effectively across languages. When a Dutch buyer calls with questions about your property, who picks up? When a French couple want a second viewing and have concerns about the purchase process, is there someone available to explain it clearly in their language?

The difference between a sale closing and a buyer walking away sometimes comes down to that: whether someone answered the call in the right language at the right moment. Agencies with genuinely multilingual teams — with native or near-native speakers of English, Dutch, French, and Russian — reach a segment of demand that others simply cannot.

Local market knowledge drives your price

A valuation that is not grounded in comparable recent sales is an opinion, not a valuation. An agent who says something like yours sells for around €180,000 without showing you what actually sold in your urbanisation or zone in the last six months is guessing.

A good local agency should be able to tell you:

• What properties comparable to yours sold for in the last 6–12 months in your specific area
• How long they took to sell
• The gap between the asking price and the final agreed price in your zone
• Whether there is significant new-build development nearby that may affect resale values

If the agency cannot answer these questions with data, their valuation cannot be trusted.

How your property is presented before it goes live

Professional photography is not optional. When your property competes on international portals with hundreds of similar listings, the first photograph determines whether someone clicks through or keeps scrolling. An agent who arrives with a smartphone and takes a few snaps is not the right partner for your sale.

Beyond photography, some agencies offer virtual tours, aerial drone footage, or floor plans. Not every tool adds value for every property type, but the general attitude of an agency toward how a property is presented tells you a great deal about how seriously they will take your sale.

Commission: what is behind the percentage

On the Costa Blanca, standard commission rates for sales typically run between 3% and 5% of the sale price, paid by the seller. Some agencies pitch lower. It is worth asking what is being cut: if an agency charges less, they are likely spending less on international advertising, photography, and portal listings.

The right question is not how much they charge, but what they do for that commission. A clear, itemised answer is a good sign.

Exclusive mandate or multi-agency: which works better in practice

Giving your property to multiple agencies at once seems like a logical way to maximise exposure. In practice, it creates a problem: no single agency has any incentive to invest in your property. If they risk splitting the commission or getting nothing at all, they will focus their energy on properties where they have exclusivity.

In our experience, giving a committed agency an exclusive mandate for three to four months almost always produces better results than spreading a listing across five agencies with little engagement. A well-negotiated exclusive arrangement includes clear commitments: a minimum number of viewings, regular reporting, and confirmed listings on specific portals.

The exclusivity should also include a clear exit: if the agreed targets are not met, you should be able to walk away. Establish that before you sign.

Communication during the sale process

Once your property is listed, the agency should keep you informed. Not necessarily every week, but regularly: how many viewings have taken place, what feedback buyers gave, whether there are any serious expressions of interest or ongoing negotiations.

Agencies that go silent for weeks are being passive. The market gives you information you can act on: if no one has visited your property in the first six weeks, the price or the presentation needs to be reviewed. That conversation only happens if the agency keeps the channel open.

Reviews: what previous sellers and buyers say

Google Reviews and Trustpilot provide a useful track record. An agency with a large number of verified reviews accumulated over several years has a demonstrable history. Read the negative reviews too — how an agency responds to a complaint reveals more about them than a five-star rating.

Questions to ask before you sign anything

1. Which international portals will you list my property on?
2. How many properties similar to mine have you sold in this area in the past year?
3. What did comparable properties sell for, and how long did they take?
4. What languages does your team speak?
5. Who takes the photographs, and how?
6. How many viewings is it reasonable to expect in the first four weeks?
7. How and how often will you update me on progress?
8. What happens if the property has not sold by the end of the exclusive period?

An agency that answers these questions with specific data and transparency deserves your consideration. One that deflects or offers vague answers does not.

Why some sellers choose to work with us

Bennecke has been operating on the Costa Blanca since 1988. That does not automatically make us the right choice for everyone, but it does mean we understand the market in Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa at a level of detail that is genuinely hard to match. Our team works in Spanish, English, French, Russian, and Dutch. We list on the major international portals, including Rightmove Overseas and Kyero. We have sold more than 5,000 properties in this area.

If you are considering putting your property on the market, we offer a free, no-obligation appraisal. No pressure, no small print. Just an honest conversation about your property and what the market is paying right now.