To answer this question I can compare with purchase procedure in Sweden as an example how it works in Western countries. In Sweden is following procedure: Seller sign the binding contract with one Real Estate Agency for the lowest price and the agreement time. Agency is advertising and there is normally auctions on signed property. For an apartment in Stockholm it usually comes 50-100 interested buyers at the same day and gives bid with bank guarantee. After selling the property Agency take 5% of purchase price for normally one days work + advertising costs.

In Croatia sellers usually try to sell with many agencies as well as on their own at the same time, without paying anything, very often without having title free and clear and changing the price from one day to another. I was in Croatia 4 times before I could purchase my house in Milna, and this was a tip from the local contact. This house was never listed. I have been working four years as consultant with local connections and I can help my clients to actually purchase  listed properties for confirmed prices.  Many of them are only listed here, because sellers have bad experience of wasting time in showing the property to people traveling around in the summer heat looking for???