5 Clues to Choosing a Real Estate Agency in Seychelles

Published on October 1, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

In the idyllic setting of the Seychelles, where turquoise seas and pristine sandy beaches attract investors from around the world, it’s essential to partner with a trustworthy real estate agency.

In this competitive field, recognizing the signs of a good agency can make all the difference between a successful investment and a disappointing experience.

A deep understanding of the local market, complete transparency in transactions, and a solidly established reputation are some of the crucial indicators that ensure you’re working with the best experts to fully leverage the potential of this paradise destination.

How to Recognize a Reputable Real Estate Agency in the Seychelles

To identify a reputable real estate agency in the Seychelles, several key criteria should be evaluated:

• Transparency of information: A reliable agency provides accurate and detailed descriptions of each property (exact area, overall condition, associated costs), responds promptly to questions, and clearly displays its fees and additional charges. Regular updates to the property portfolio are also an important indicator.
• Local experience and reputation: Experience in the Seychelles market is measured by in-depth knowledge of local trends, prices by area, and specific requirements for foreign buyers. The length of operation in the region and the number of successful transactions reveal professionalism.
• Certifications and accreditations: Recognized agencies often hold official accreditations or are members of local organizations such as the Seychelles Investment Board (SIB). Their professional network typically includes notaries, real estate attorneys, partner banks, or tax advisors.
• Quality of customer service: Personalized support throughout the process (from search to signing at the notary) distinguishes a good agency. This includes assistance with obtaining local financing, rigorous administrative follow-up, and genuine availability to resolve unexpected issues.

Criterion	What to Verify
Transparency	Complete property information; detailed fees; clear communication
Reputation	Positive client reviews; verifiable recommendations; longevity
Certifications/Accreditations	SIB membership; partnerships with local professionals
Customer Service	Comprehensive support; post-transaction follow-up

Client reviews play a decisive role: they allow you to concretely measure satisfaction levels and the agency’s actual effectiveness in various situations. Consulting these testimonials helps avoid unpleasant surprises; it’s not uncommon for investors to share positive experiences regarding strict adherence to legal frameworks or efficiency in post-purchase management.

The ability to provide reliable legal advice is also crucial in the Seychelles, where the legal system combines French civil law and British common law. A reputable agency works hand-in-hand with local lawyers or notaries to ensure regulatory compliance during property transfer (mandatory written contract, registration with the Land Registry). They also guide clients through administrative procedures with entities like the SIB to prevent costly errors related to local specifics such as anti-money laundering regulations or fund sourcing requirements.

Concrete example:
A recent study showed that an agency demonstrating transparency from the start—by quickly providing complete technical documentation during visits—enabled a non-resident foreign investor to anticipate all property project costs before final signing. Through its strong partnership with a local legal firm recommended by several satisfied previous clients (particularly European expatriates), this same agency legally secured the entire procedure through final registration without delays or disputes reported by the end client.

Key takeaway:
Meeting with multiple agents before any commitment is still advised to personally assess their professionalism and build a relationship based on mutual trust—a key factor for successfully completing any real estate project in the Seychelles.

Red Flags to Avoid with Real Estate Agents

Behaviors to avoid when choosing a real estate agent in the Seychelles:

• Lack of transparency about fees and commissions
• Poor knowledge of the local market
• Questionable business practices or unrealistic promises

Red Flag	Potential Consequences	Concrete Examples	How to Identify Early
Hidden or vague fees	Unexpected expenses, feeling of deception, financial loss	Agent refuses to clearly explain commission or mentions unjustified “administrative fees”	Request written details of all fees; observe if they evade the question
Market ignorance	Poor price estimation, overpaying, bad location choice	Agent cannot accurately answer about price trends in different neighborhoods	Ask questions about local market; verify answers through independent research
Overly attractive promises	Legal risks (ineligible properties), lower than expected returns	Promises of high rental yields without concrete proof; property listed at abnormally low price	Be wary of “exceptional” offers and compare with multiple independent agencies
Opaque financial arrangements	Loss of control, legal and tax risks	Intermediary proposes complex, hard-to-understand scheme to avoid certain taxes	Demand simplicity and clarity in all financial or contractual proposals
Unverifiable references	Risk of incompetence or fraud	Unable to obtain feedback from previous clients; refusal to provide professional history	Systematically request references and real client reviews from first meeting

Why These Signals Are Revealing

A non-transparent agent often seeks to hide weaknesses in their service: lack of local experience, intention to overcharge for certain services, or involvement in questionable practices that could amount to fraud.

Poor market knowledge translates to an inability to objectively advise on promising neighborhoods, recent trends, or specific regulations for foreign buyers—directly exposing investors to the risk of overpaying for poorly located or unsuitable properties.

Exaggerated promises (“guaranteed returns,” “assured capital gains”) often serve only to quickly attract clients; they sometimes mask either less advantageous realities or even hidden defects (legal issues with the property).

Complex arrangements are frequently used to deliberately obscure overall understanding of the deal—this should immediately raise alarms because any sound real estate transaction must remain transparent.

Finally, the complete absence of serious references indicates the agent has neither reliable track record nor local professional recognition—two fundamental elements for securing any real estate project in the Seychelles.

Concrete Examples During Interactions:

• An agent systematically refuses any written communication regarding their compensation.
• They avoid your specific questions about certain geographic areas (“It’s very popular here!”) without ever providing concrete data.
• When mentioning similar properties for sale elsewhere at lower prices: they respond that these must be “scams” without factual arguments.
• They quickly try to impose their internal banking/financial solution without allowing for independent advice.

How to Detect These Signs from First Contact

• Insist on obtaining all information in writing from the first meeting (detailed fees, contractual conditions).
• Question their specific experience with international investors in the Seychelles: ask three precise technical questions (local tax regulations for foreigners, recent price per square meter evolution in popular districts…).
• Systematically request two recent contacts who completed transactions through this agent.

If responses are evasive or even aggressive to these legitimate requests: consider this a strong negative signal indicating you should continue your search with more rigorous and transparent professionals.

Understanding the Importance of Agency Agreements in the Seychelles

The agency agreement plays a central role in structuring real estate transactions in the Seychelles. This legal document formalizes the relationship between the principal, typically the property seller, and the real estate agent responsible for its marketing. Its drafting specifies the rights and obligations of each party, ensuring transparency and security throughout the process.

Main Objectives of the Agency Agreement:

• Clearly define the real estate agent’s (agent) responsibilities: prospecting buyers, organizing viewings, negotiation.
• Frame the seller’s (principal) commitments: guarantee they are legitimately authorized to sell the property and provide all necessary accurate information for marketing.
• Avoid potential conflicts through prior clarification of expectations and procedures.

Typical Clause Examples in Seychelles Agency Agreements:

Clause	Description	Impact on Transaction
Party Identification	Complete identity of principal (seller) and agent.	Clarifies who is contractually bound.
Property Specification	Exact address, detailed description, associated land titles.	Limits ambiguity or dispute risks about the subject property.
Asking Price	Amount at which owner wishes to sell property.	Frames future negotiations with potential buyers.
Agreement Duration	Period during which agent holds exclusivity (or not) to sell property.	Specifies commitment timeframe between parties.
Remuneration	Precise terms regarding commission due to agent upon success	Stipulates financial distribution after sale
Special Conditions	Possible exclusions (e.g., direct sales by owner), specific obligations	Allows fine-tuning of contract to particular context

Such contractual framework offers several major advantages:

• Legal security: Formal compliance with commitments significantly limits legal risks from poor execution or misunderstanding between parties.
• Transparency: Each written step reinforces mutual trust in operations often involving substantial sums.
• Guarantee for each party:
  • For seller: assurance agent will act according to defined conditions; protection against unauthorized actions.
  • For agent: certainty of payment if efforts succeed; clarity about exact mission scope.

Summary List of Protections Offered by a Good Contract in the Seychelles:

• Precise framing of assigned tasks
• Written proof in case of dispute
• Mandatory compliance before any advertising or client viewings
• Security regarding lawful fund sourcing in anti-money laundering logic

In summary, a carefully drafted agency agreement constitutes a true framework securing both legally and financially each step of a real estate sale in the Seychelles—an indispensable condition for establishing serenity and efficiency in this sector where regulatory rigor aligns with international attractiveness for both investors and local or foreign property owners.