Pedro Correia Real Estate

Buying or selling: an advisor on your side of the table

By Pedro Correia · Last checked: 2026-10-13

On a €400,000 sale, a 5% commission plus 23% VAT is €24,600. Commission is negotiable, exclusivity is negotiable, and the asking price decides more than either. Most owners sign the first agreement put in front of them. I sit on your side before you sign anything and stay there until the deed.

When you sell

  • Sell, keep or rent? The numbers for each, net of tax and costs, from the same model I use on my own 15 apartments. Sometimes the right answer is not to sell yet.
  • Price. Comparable sales from the land registry and portal history, so you can tell a realistic valuation from one chosen to win the listing.
  • Preparation. What to repair and what not to, energy certificate, land registry and tax documents updated, condomínio declaration requested early.
  • Choosing the agent. A shortlist of licensed agencies that fit your property and market, what to ask them, and how their proposals compare.
  • Terms. Commission, exclusivity, duration and exit clauses explained before you sign the mediation contract, with what is usually negotiable.
  • Offers. A second opinion on every offer the agent brings: price, conditions, deposit and timing.
  • To the deed. Certificates, deadlines and your lawyer's checklist kept in order.

When you buy

  • Yield check. The rent or nightly rate the property can support, running costs, IMI and tax, net yield. Before you fall for the view.
  • Red flags. Licence status for short-term rental, building and condomínio issues, empty-house IMI history, what to ask the seller's agent.
  • Offer and terms. Where the price should be and which conditions to put in the promissory contract with your lawyer.
  • The right people. Licensed agents, lawyers, banks and AL operators I have worked with, in Portugal, Ireland, the Netherlands and Dubai.

Why an advisor, not an agent

An agent is paid by the deal. I am paid by you, a fixed amount, whatever you decide. That is the only way the advice "don't sell yet" or "walk away from this one" can be honest.

What I don't do

I do not advertise properties, run viewings, or look for buyers, sellers or tenants for anyone. Those are licensed activities in Portugal and go to a licensed agency, which you contract directly.

Start

Ask for the free audit and tick "sell" or "buy". The report includes the likely price range and my fee.

FAQ

Are you an estate agent?

No. I do not hold an AMI licence and I do not find buyers, sellers or tenants for anyone. When a sale or purchase needs an agent, I recommend a licensed one, help you agree the terms, and stay on your side until the deed.

Who pays you?

You do, a fixed fee agreed in writing before we start. I take no commission from the sale and no referral fee from the agent, so my advice does not depend on which agent you choose or what price you accept.

Why not just go straight to an agent?

You can. The agent is paid when the deal closes, by the seller, at a percentage. That is a fine incentive to close, not to get you the best price, the right terms or the right timing. I have bought and sold my own apartments for years; I tell you what I would do with my own money.

Do I still need a lawyer?

Yes. Your lawyer drafts and reviews the promissory contract and the deed. I make sure the documents, certificates and deadlines are in order before they need them.