In December 2025, I travelled to Zagreb to take part in the recording of the Stanarica Podcast, a real estate–focused podcast that openly addresses real challenges and issues within the profession – without embellishment and without superficial answers. Many thanks to journalist Ivana Alfier for the invitation and the opportunity to openly share my perspective on working in the real estate sector and on the way Alfa Real Estate from Vodice (Croatia) operates as an agency.
During the conversation, we touched on the real estate market in Croatia, the role of agents and agencies, as well as problems that are increasingly visible in everyday practice. Unfortunately, real estate brokerage work is often carried out by individuals without sufficient experience or knowledge, and the consequences are ultimately felt by buyers, sellers, intermediaries and the market as a whole. When the market fails to distinguish quality work from poor practice, those who work poorly often fare better – which is exactly why I believe that professionals who work responsibly need to be more vocal.
A significant part of the discussion was dedicated to documentation and professional responsibility. From the very beginning, the team at Alfa Nekretnine (Alfa Real Estate) made a clear decision about how we work – we do not engage in transactions where the documentation is not fully in order. We always explain all legal and factual aspects of a property to our clients openly and clearly. We believe that long-term trust is built through transparency and clear rules, even when that means declining a potential transaction.
In this episode, we also discussed working in a small market such as Vodice, the importance of mentorship for young agents, the role of education in long-term business success, as well as my experience participating in the TV show House Hunters International, where I had the opportunity to present Vodice and Croatia to a much wider audience.
We also touched on other topics from everyday practice, including:
- what it looks like when a seller lists the same property with multiple agencies
- the importance of clear cooperation between the seller and the agency
- why strong communication skills are essential for real estate agents
- the difference between legal status and ownership of a property
- what a buyer can expect when contacting a registered real estate agency
- the role of home staging in presenting a property and how it differs from interior design
Only part of the conversation is outlined here, while the full episode provides broader context and deeper insight into these topics.
The podcast is in Croatian, with English subtitles available on YouTube (can be enabled in settings).
If you are interested in real estate, working in the profession, and ways to build long-term trust, grab some popcorn 🙂 and watch this interesting episode HERE, or simply click on the image below to start the video.
Written by: Jasminka Fišer Gavranović – owner of Alfa nekretnine real estate agency in Vodice, licensed real estate agent and home staging expert
📍 Alfa nekretnine, Obala Juričev Ive Cote 27, Vodice
📞 Tel.: 022 441 292 | Mob.: 091 525 3260
✉️ Email: info@alfanekretnine.hr
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