What a buyer representative does

Why a buyer needs their own representative

The agent showing you a flat usually works for the owner. Catalan housing law (Ley 18/2007) requires that agent to sign a nota de encargo, a written sales mandate, with the seller. Their goal is to sell that property.

A buyer representative starts from your objective. They draft the search brief, cover several channels (portals, agencies, private owners, professional contacts), filter out what does not fit and explain why each option is in or out. The decision to buy is always yours. A good representative may advise you to wait or walk away when the information is not enough to decide.

Deliverables to expect at each stage

Compare what you will actually receive, not promises. Ask for each stage's output to be described in the contract or an annex.

What a representative does not do

A buyer representative coordinates the checks but does not replace specialists. Ask who carries out each check and who pays for it.

• Legal review. Arras (deposit) contracts, the terms of the escritura, charges and third-party rights are reviewed by a lawyer.
• Building and flat condition. Structure, services and alterations are assessed by an architect or technical surveyor.
• Tax. Which tax applies (ITP, or VAT with AJD) and how it affects you is confirmed by a tax adviser. Rates are covered in taxes when buying in Catalonia.
• Notarial acts. The notary authorises the escritura and checks identity, powers, charges, community payments and the payment method. More in escritura and the notary.
• Financing. The bank sets the loan terms; the valuation (tasación) is done by an appraisal company independent of the bank and paid for by the borrower.

Who signs and how disagreements are recorded

The contract is signed by whoever will buy. If there are two buyers, agree beforehand whether both sign and who makes decisions during the search. If someone will sign documents on your behalf, they need a power of attorney; at completion the notary checks the representative's powers.

Record disagreements as they happen. In each viewing record, leave room for your assessment next to the representative's. If you go ahead against advice, or drop an option, write down the decision and the reason. A month later you will still see which questions stayed open and why.

How to compare candidates

• Whose interests. The contract states that you are the client and lists what the work includes.
• Registration. Anyone who habitually and for payment provides property brokerage services in Catalonia must be entered in the Registre d'agents immobiliaris de Catalunya. The register is public; see finding a flat in Barcelona for how to check it.
• Fees. The fee model, stages and payment trigger are written down before work starts.
• Commercial ties. For your transaction, it is disclosed whether the representative receives money from the seller, an agency, a bank, a lawyer, a surveyor or a contractor. If not, that is stated plainly.
• Limits. The contract names which checks belong to independent specialists and what is not guaranteed: an outcome, a discount, the absence of hidden defects.

Last updated 26.10.2026.