If you've decided to buy in a Baltic country, it's likely you'll have some personal connection or already be familiar with either Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia. Anyone starting from scratch would do well to start their hunt for an agent by contacting the appropriate British Chamber of Commerce in whichever Baltic nation you are interested in. Latvia has a trade association for estate agents, LANIDA, set up to help maintain professional levels of service in the real estate industry, which could be useful too. The Baltic States are centralised countries, meaning you'll find most agencies with English-speaking staff in the capital cities. Criteria for choosing an agent should include: sound knowledge of the local area and its property laws, an understanding of your - and British buyers' in general - personal requirements, good spoken English and a willingness to answer any questions honestly. They should also be clear about whose interests they represent and how their commission is paid, and if you're buying a new property, ask them about their relationship with the builder. Smaller agencies run by expats - who are often doing the job as much for the love of helping fellow British people as they are for income - are frequently safe options. One such is Michael McLaughlin of Southern Comfit who fell in love with Latvia through his Latvian partner and now helps British people buy there. The starting point for a successful relationship with any agent is establishing precisely where their responsibility starts and ends. For example, some agents go beyond what you'd expect from your regular agent in the UK, offering to assist with the paperwork that comes with moving or buying abroad, such as opening a bank account, helping you to transfer money from the UK (using a currency specialist like Smart Currency Exchange), getting you a tax number and so on. For some, after sales is just as important and they'll happily help you find a plumber a year after selling you a house. Other agents may simply focus on the sale of the property and the associated formalities - this would be typical of a larger agency that deals with a large numbers of clients. Some people prefer the second type of agent and there is no right or wrong way of doing things. So long as the agent sticks to what was agreed and acts professionally throughout the buying process, there should be no problems. Like the rest of continental Europe, the Baltic States use a notary system for conveyancing. So while it might be possible to complete a purchase with just the help of your agent and a notary, as always it's highly advisable to employ an independent solicitor who acts solely on your behalf too. If you accept an invite to a viewing trip, make sure you get any costs you may be liable for in writing and the agent is clear about how flexible your itinerary will be. A good agent will be selling Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia as a destination - and not just his properties - and will not pressure you in any way, even encouraging you to investigate buying opportunities other than his own.