The Questions I Ask Every Client Before Showing Them a Single Apartment

It always starts the same way.

Not with a property tour. Not with a link to a beachfront apartment. And definitely not with a sales pitch.

It starts with a coffee.

Usually at one of the shaded cafés near the old port in Saranda—those places where time slows down just enough to breathe, and you can hear the soft clinking of espresso cups and the distant hum of ferries heading off to Corfu. That’s where I like to meet new clients for the first time. Before we see a single square meter of tile or terrace, we talk. Really talk.

Because—and I say this with all the love in the world—so many people think they know what they want when they arrive in Saranda. But this coastline? It has a way of shifting people’s plans.

Last week, for example, I met a couple who were set on finding a modern seaview apartment in the city center. Five minutes into our chat, they admitted they’d actually dreamed for years of owning something more peaceful, closer to nature. A week later, we were standing on the hillside in Borsh, overlooking that endless stretch of turquoise, exploring one of the White Residence Villas. Their faces lit up like I’d opened a window to their dream life. That moment? That’s why I love this job.

But back to the beginning. Let me share the questions I always ask before showing anyone a single apartment.

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1. Why Albania? And why now?

This is a big one.

Some people come for the investment—understandable. Saranda apartments for sale offer some of the best ROI along the Mediterranean. But others? They’ve fallen in love with something deeper. The simplicity. The warmth of the people. The untouched beaches you can still find if you know where to look (like the hidden cove just past the Monastery Beach trail—locals know it’s better than Mirror Beach on a busy weekend).

I want to understand what’s pulling them here. Are they escaping the chaos of a city life? Looking for a calm retirement spot with easy ferry access to Greece? Wanting to raise a family by the sea, where kids can grow up eating freshly grilled sardines and picking figs straight off the trees?

The answers shape everything that comes next.

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2. What does “dream home” actually mean to you?

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Some people say “beachfront property” and mean it literally: toes-in-the-sand, hear-the-waves-from-your-balcony kind of living. Others mean a short walk with sea views, but quieter surroundings. And then there are those who surprise me.

One British client last summer told me, “I just want to wake up and see olive trees. That’s it.” And you know what? We found him the perfect hillside apartment in the Fabeno Residence, with a modest terrace shaded by wild fig trees. Not beachfront. Not flashy. But exactly what he wanted.

So I ask: what’s your version of a dream?

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3. What’s your rhythm?

This is one most agents skip, but for me it’s essential.

Are you a morning person who wants to jog along the promenade with a mountain view? Do you dream of long afternoons sipping raki under a grapevine canopy? Are you the type who wants to walk to the market every day, chat with the same smiling vendor who always throws in an extra lemon “because you’re family now”?

These details matter. If someone says they love lively energy, I might point them toward the newer developments closer to the promenade—like White Residence Ksamil. It’s got that modern coastal vibe, with just enough buzz. But if they light up talking about peace and silence, I might suggest somewhere on the hillside in Qeparo instead, where the only sound is the call to prayer drifting softly over the valley.

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4. How will your life look here—day to day?

It’s not about bedrooms and bathrooms. It’s about habits.

Will you need space for guests? Are you hoping to work remotely with a sea view (and yes, we do have decent fiber internet now—something people are always shocked to hear)? Do you imagine sipping espresso on your balcony at sunrise or hosting Sunday lunches for visiting family?

I once helped a young couple from Poland find an apartment in Saranda. They said they only needed one bedroom. But as we chatted, I realized they planned to host friends and family constantly. I gently suggested a two-bedroom layout instead. A few months later, they sent me a picture of a birthday party on their terrace, cake and all. That’s the magic of asking the right questions.

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