Life in Montenegro is like a mosaic: relax a little - and instead of a piece of heavenly landscape, you have in your hands a black square of Malevich. And why? Because shady realtors are not just characters from horror stories, but a reality that can knock on your door at any moment. So, story one.
Story one: A commission the size of the moon
Imagine Peter and Sveta, a young couple who decided to buy a studio by the sea. They found the “gray eminence” of the real estate market, who offered them a luxurious studio for 100 thousand euros. We reached an agreement, shook hands, everything seemed fine, but bad luck - the realtor’s commission turned out to be 20 thousand euros. Twenty! It's like five percent, but multiplied by four and flavored with arrogance. Peter and Sveta tried to understand the merits of such money, but the realtor, smiling slyly, disappeared, leaving them with questions and empty pockets.
Story two: The neighbor with long arms
Now about my friend Olga. She entrusted a neighbor with the keys to the house so that he could show it to potential buyers. The neighbor, by the way, is a local real estate “professional”. And what do you think? One day he called and said that the house had been robbed: the power had gone out, the alarm did not work, and everything valuable, including sinks, had disappeared.
Later it turned out that this “respectable neighbor” himself arranged the “rob your neighbor” quest and successfully completed it.
Story three: Neighborhood Kindness Commission
Now about Sergei, who decided to sell the house through an agency. The agency worked like clockwork and found a buyer in two months. But then a neighbor comes onto the scene - a self-taught realtor who has been trying to sell this house for three years and even signed a couple of people on a tour. The neighbor, seeing the success of the agency, decided that he also deserved a commission. And not just some little thing, but 10 thousand euros! Sergei, a decent person, paid both the agency and the neighbor. Because otherwise, apparently, universal justice would be violated.
How to avoid becoming a victim of shady realtors
1. Check the company registration. Make sure on the website http://www.pretraga.crps.me:8083/ that the company really exists and has all the necessary documents, and not just a smile and a sly squint.
2. A lawyer is our everything. Make transactions with a lawyer so that you don’t have to look for someone to blame and don’t have to pay double the price in court. The lawyer's commission is 1% of the transaction.
3. Trust trusted agencies with offices. Ask your friends for recommendations, not your neighbor with long arms. Having an office is an important and mandatory component for the official work of a real estate agency.
4. Intuition is your best friend. If something seems suspicious, that's because it is. Stay away from such offers.
Montenegro is a beautiful country, but it also has its dark sides. Shady realtors can turn your dream into a nightmare if you're not careful. Be vigilant, check everything and everyone, and then no shadow agents will be able to darken your happiness on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.