How to open a real estate agency in Batumi
I do IT for real estate agencies and build websites for realtors in Batumi — and I see that successful agencies stand out not by their office but by their speed: reply fast, show photos fast, find a property in the database fast. Here is where to start.
Format
- A solo realtor — a personal brand, a website in your name, WhatsApp and Telegram.
- A small agency — 2–5 agents, a shared property database and rules.
- A niche agency — short-term rentals and apartment management, new builds, commercial property.
Languages and clients
Buyers and tenants in Batumi come from Georgia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Israel, Turkey and Europe. An agency that answers in Russian, Georgian and English gets more enquiries. The website and listings should be in the same languages.
The property database
- One shared spreadsheet or CRM, not notes on agents’ phones.
- Good-quality photos, layout, floor, view, price, date updated.
- An "up to date" mark — outdated listings put clients off.
Online
- A website with properties and districts and a WhatsApp button.
- A Google Maps profile and client reviews.
- Listings on the major Georgian classifieds sites and in Batumi real estate Telegram channels.
- The realtor’s personal brand — people trust a person.
Client data
Passports, contracts, correspondence — keep them in a secure cloud with two-factor protection, not in a shared folder. Separate accounts for each agent, backups. This is what I set up for agencies.
Registration
To start, a sole trader registration usually suits; about taxes and small business status — in the article "Sole trader in Georgia and 1% tax". Whether there are special requirements for intermediaries in property deals, check with a lawyer: I did not find such requirements in open sources, but rules change.