In recent years, the evolution of the real estate market and digital technologies has called into question the viability of opening a traditional real estate agency in Italy. The country counts over 26,000 agencies (roughly one for every 2,300 inhabitants) and about 53,000 licensed real estate agents (one for every 1,100 inhabitants), while approximately 36% of sellers do not use an agency to sell their property.
Although entering the sector may seem appealing, several factors make this choice less advantageous than it used to be and highlight the need for innovation even in a sector so deeply rooted in tradition as real estate. Recent studies show that 60% of real estate agents consider digitalization a priority to remain competitive.
Continue reading to understand the challenges of opening a traditional real estate agency in Italy today, and discover the new opportunities offered by digital solutions and Hasamia’s hybrid real estate agency model.
Why Opening a Traditional Real Estate Agency Is No Longer Worth It
For years, opening a traditional real estate agency was a popular choice for those looking to enter the real estate sector.
However, today’s market dynamics and the rise of new technologies have forced a reevaluation of the advantages and challenges of this model.
Although the real estate sector still offers many opportunities, the conditions for successfully running a traditional agency have changed significantly, making it necessary to consider whether investing in this direction is really worthwhile. Here are the main challenges that agents face every day when choosing the traditional model:
1. High Start-Up and Operating Costs
Opening a real estate agency still involves significant costs, ranging from renting or purchasing a space, renovating and customizing it, to expenses for staff, training, equipment, and management software.
Starting a traditional real estate agency in Italy can cost on average between €50,000 and €120,000, an investment that does not always guarantee a quick return in a highly competitive market.
These expenses recur annually and must be increased over time to remain competitive in an increasingly saturated and complex market.
Such costs are difficult to recover, especially without a steady stream of clients. Not only fixed expenses but also the need to constantly update the agency to stay competitive in a market where digitalization is increasingly important.
2. Additional Costs for Digitalization
Today, the real estate market is increasingly digital. Online portals, social media, and platforms for managing sales and rentals reduce the need for a constant physical presence.
Traditional agencies therefore face heavy investments to digitalize, integrating technologies for client management, online visibility, and document handling. All of this involves additional expenses and ongoing evolution, which many agencies struggle to manage without compromising profitability.
3. Limited Scalability of the Traditional Model
The traditional real estate agency model is inherently difficult to scale. Revenue growth is limited by the physical capacity of the office and the number of clients an agency can manage. Additionally, street-based agencies are often perceived as local or neighborhood offices, making it nearly impossible to acquire properties outside the office’s coverage area.
Each new client requires the same amount of time and resources to manage, making expansion difficult without proportionally increasing costs. Unlike digital models, where many operations can be automated and a much larger audience can be reached at relatively low costs, traditional agencies do not enjoy this advantage.
Over the past 20 years, revenues for traditional agencies have decreased while operating costs have increased exponentially.
According to the Top Agency list — ranking the 1,000 Italian real estate agencies by revenue, compiled by Wikicasa — the lowest-ranking agency earns around €380,000 per year. Imagine the potential figures for the other 25,000 agencies!
4. Highly Saturated Market
With approximately 26,000 real estate agencies, the Italian market is extremely saturated. In many areas, competition is fierce, and differentiating oneself is becoming increasingly difficult.
Real estate agents must not only compete with other agencies but also with new business models that have adapted better to digitalization, such as online agencies or digital brokerage services.
In this context, earning a significant market share without increasing costs or reducing service quality becomes a real challenge.
Launch a Next-Generation Real Estate Agency
So, what’s the solution? Should you give up on working in real estate?
No! There is a way to overcome the limitations of the traditional model: explore alternative business models, such as hybrid real estate agencies that offer the best of both worlds. These agencies allow you to operate at lower costs, without the need for a physical office, and with greater scalability.
This model gives you the opportunity to reach a much wider audience while reducing the risk of stagnation and losing competitiveness.
Discover the story of Hasamia and the business model we offer — it could make all the difference for your career.
Hasamia: The Ideal Partner for Next-Generation Real Estate
In today’s rapidly evolving market, choosing the right partner can make all the difference for both agents and agencies.
Hasamia has developed an innovative business model designed to meet the current challenges of the real estate sector, combining advanced technology and operational support to provide an unprecedented experience.
Why Work with Hasamia? Here Are the 4 Main Reasons:
– Reduce operational costs: Thanks to a hybrid model that combines digital solutions with on-the-ground agents, Hasamia eliminates the need for a physical office, drastically reducing fixed management costs. This allows agents to focus on
acquiring and selling properties with higher profit margins.
– Leverage technology and improve efficiency: Hasamia’s digital platform is designed to simplify every aspect of real estate transactions. From property valuation to listing on major online portals, Hasamia provides tools that make agents’ work faster
and more effective. In fact, we have reduced the average selling time to just 90 days.
– Benefit from a transparent and scalable model: Hasamia moves beyond the traditional percentage-based commission model, offering fixed-price packages that increase transparency and client satisfaction. Moreover, the model is highly scalable, enabling agents to manage multiple properties simultaneously without proportional cost increases.
– Continuous support with training and strategy: Agents collaborating with Hasamia receive ongoing training and innovative tools to enhance their performance. Whether it’s managing clients, acquiring new properties, or closing complex deals, the Hasamia team is by your side at every step.
In a saturated and increasingly competitive market, Hasamia is the ideal solution for those who want to stand out and successfully navigate the challenges of modern real estate.
We’ve already helped real estate agents reduce costs by 30% and grow their client portfolios by 50% through a strategy based on innovative technology and marketing.
A Growing Network: Hasamia is Looking for Real Estate Agents
With the goal of expanding and strengthening its network of partner agents and real estate agencies, Hasamia is open to collaborating with agents from every corner of Italy.
Whether you are in a major city, a growing urban center, or a rural area, Hasamia provides the tools and support to help you succeed in your territory. Our business model is designed to adapt to local market characteristics, giving you the flexibility to customize your approach while never feeling alone in your work.
Reach buyers across Italy and beyond through our digital platform and partnerships with the leading national and international real estate portals. Your clients’ properties will gain the visibility they need to attract buyers wherever they may be.
Join the Hasamia network and take advantage of a system that values your work, putting your skills and ambition at the center.
If you are determined to make a more impactful entry into the real estate market, carefully consider alternative options and embrace the radical change already underway in the sector, where technological innovation plays an increasingly crucial role.
Become part of something bigger by joining the Hasamia team!
