- The seller has an agent. Do you?
The conflict of interest
Why the agent showing you the property can't fight for you
Not because they’re dishonest. Because their business model structurally prevents it — and the difference costs buyers thousands.
The problem with the traditional model
When you view a property in Spain, the agent showing you around is almost always the same agent who was hired by the seller. He valued the property. He set the asking price. He manages the seller’s expectations.
Now you’re asking him to tell the seller that his own valuation was too high — to argue against his own advice, to his own client, in a way that reduces his own commission.
“He set that price. Now you’re asking him to argue against it.”
He won’t. Not really. Not in the way someone who works exclusively for you would. He’ll make the call, he’ll pass on your offer — but he has no structural incentive to push hard, hold the line, or tell you to walk away.
And the difference between what you pay and what you could have paid? That’s money you’ll never know you lost.
This isn't about dishonesty
The problem is structural, not personal. Most listing agents are professional and well-intentioned. But their business model creates a conflict of interest that no amount of goodwill can fully overcome.
A study by economists Levitt and Dubner — published in Freakonomics — found that when real estate agents sell their own homes, they hold out 10 days longer and achieve 3% more than when they sell for clients. They know when a bid is too low. When it’s their own house, they act on that knowledge.
When it’s your house, speed is their friend — not yours.
What A Buyer's Agent Changes
A buyer’s agent is paid by the buyer, works for the buyer, and has no relationship with the seller or the seller’s listing. Their incentive is simple: the better the deal you get, the better they’ve done their job.
At FirstHomeValencia, we represent only buyers. We never take listings. We are never paid by sellers. We have no reason to close fast, no relationship to protect, and no asking price to defend.
We negotiate with one objective: your best possible result.
+3%
According to Levitt & Dubner (Freakonomics), agents who sell their own homes achieve 3% more and wait 10 days longer than when acting for clients.
Source: Levitt & Dubner, Freakonomics (2005)
A documented transaction
€16,260
Listed at €385,000 · Purchased at €358,000 · Fee (3%): €10,740 · Net saving: €16,260
Ready to have someone on your side?
Book a free 30-minute call. No obligation. We’ll tell you honestly what we can do.
Side by side
Seller's agent vs. buyer's agent
The same process — completely different incentives.
Seller’s agent (listing agent)
- Paid by the seller — his fee is in the asking price
- Set the asking price himself — and stands behind it
- Incentivised to close quickly — more deals, more income
- Ongoing relationship with the seller — your negotiation is their relationship
- Every €1,000 you save costs him money
FirstHomeValencia (buyer’s agent)
- Paid by you — our fee is transparent and fixed at 3%
- We assess the asking price independently — and tell you if it's too high
- Incentivised to get the best price — that's our only measure of success
- No relationship with the seller — we negotiate freely
- The better your deal, the better we've done our job
The research
What happens when agents act for themselves
Economists Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner studied thousands of real estate transactions. Their finding: agents sell their own homes differently — better — than homes belonging to their clients.
“When the agent is selling her own home, she sets a higher asking price, leaves the house on the market longer, and ultimately sells it for more money.”
— Levitt & Dubner, Freakonomics (2005)
3%
more achieved when selling their own home vs. a client’s
10
days longer on market before accepting an offer
On €350,000
that 3% difference equals €10,500 — more than our entire fee
What it costs to not know
The money you'll never know you lost
The most expensive part of buying without a buyer’s agent isn’t what you pay. It’s what you overpay — and never notice.
€10,500
What we specifically do for you
A buyer’s agent is a concept. Here’s what that means in practice eight concrete deliverables, from first search to final signature.
Every item below is included in our 3% fee. Nothing extra.
- Property search and shortlisting on your criteria and budget — including off-market
- Viewing coordination — in person and remote (live video walkthrough)
- Market value analysis and price assessment before every offer
- Negotiation on your behalf — with no relationship with the seller
- Legal due diligence with independent lawyer: title check, land registry, debts, contracts
- NIE application support and Spanish bank account guidance
- Full communication in English, Dutch or German throughout
Ready to have someone working for you?
Book a free 30-minute intake call. We’ll explain exactly what we can do for your situation — and whether we’re the right fit.