Tarragona residents are reporting more unsolicited calls, doorstep visits and leaflet drops from estate agents, as housing demand continues to outstrip supply across the city and wider Catalonia.
Sandra, who lives in Torres Jordi in Tarragona, said two Tecnocasa agents knocked on her door and asked about her next-door neighbour and nearby flats. She said they did not ask directly about her home, but told her properties in the area were selling well. Sandra described the encounter as “a bit uncomfortable, too invasive”.
The approach, often described as cold calling, involves unannounced visits and attempts to gather information about homes that could be put on the market. In a tight housing market, agents are looking for any property that might become available.
Other residents have reported similar tactics. María, who lives near the Torre dels Vents, said she had found a large number of leaflets and advertising in her letterbox. In Part Baixa, one letter seen in a block in Tarragona told residents that their home had “something unique” and that there was “the perfect buyer” waiting for it.
The letters also point to the current market conditions, saying that high demand and limited availability in Tarragona are creating favourable opportunities for owners who decide to sell. Some messages also promise a good selling price.
The complaints are not limited to Tarragona. A resident in Reus said the same Tecnocasa agent had visited their flat twice, even after being told it was a rental. The resident said the agent asked for the landlord’s number and information about other flats in the building, and questioned whether repeated visits of this kind are legal.
An anonymous source from Tarragona’s real estate sector said tough competition is normal, but added that cold calling, meaning visits without warning and without a prior relationship, has not been common for a long time among apis, the term used for estate agents. Authorities have not yet commented on the legality or ethics of the tactics. Residents who receive persistent or aggressive approaches can raise complaints with consumer protection bodies. For more local coverage, see our news page.
