A day as a real estate agent. Monapart Barcelona on Recursos Homínids (RNE R4)

Lluís Freixes tries his hand at being an estate agent for a day, accompanied by Eduard Solé, head of lettings at Monapart Barcelona, who explains to him in detail what it’s like to sell or let #habitatgesbonics properties in Barcelona.

Finding a flat to rent in Barcelona can currently become frustrating (read the post The rental market in Barcelona and its complexity). And doing it alone, moreover, is very boring. On the radio programme Hominid Resources from RNE_Ràdio 4 on the 19th of March, they decided to try their luck as estate agents, and thought of Monapart to find out, from the inside, what the job of an estate agent is like and what it takes to do it.

L'Eduard Solé, rentals and asset management director of Monapart Barcelona, was interviewed in situ one of our #habitatgesbonics moments ahead of a viewing by some potential tenants. During the 30-minute programme, Eduard goes through the process of marketing a flat, from preparing the property to be shown in the best possible condition; he addresses the queries that commonly arise during viewings; and concludes by explaining the process of selecting applicants once those interested in the flat have formally expressed their interest.

“Barcelona is a very dynamic city because it has a very diverse audience”, explains Solé. ”Investors looking for homes in which to get a return on their money; solvent business people who come from outside for a season and need to rent; families that are growing or separating... all of them with a high willingness and need to buy or rent within a market where stock is very limited, and this greatly increases prices”, commenting, noting that “the estate agent's role is one of mediation, and the final decision on the sale or rental price always rests with the owner, who often ignores our advice, which is always based on a prior valuation of the property within the market.

Click below to listen to the full podcast of the interview (from the beginning until minute 32:13):

“The role of the estate agent is one of mediation, and the final decision on the sale or rental price always rests with the owner, who often ignores our advice, which is always based on a prior valuation of the property within the market”

Human Resources is an entertainment and public service space where every week the journalist Lluís Freixes (@llfreixes) puts themselves in the shoes of a trainee starting a new job. They also work with organisations and companies in the employment sector that help to improve career prospects and discover tools and strategies for job hunting.