As the popularity of buying a second home overseas or indeed relocating to sunnier locations increases, so does the choice of estate agents to use. This growth together with the huge increase in Internet users across the world means that it is more difficult to establish the good trustworthy agents from those that do not really have the buyer’s best interests at heart.Although the Internet provides a fast and efficient way to research properties, developments and estate agents without having to leave the comfort of ones home, it is not always easy to establish the reputation and integrity of an agent on first look at a website or in the first call. You can always go with your gut instinct but there are also crucial points to look out for and guidelines you can follow as a client to ensure you will be happy with where you are putting your money.Firstly, if an agent is happy to put their contact details on a website you know that they are clearly happy for clients to call them and potentially also visit them in their offices. While this seems a simple step, a cynic would wonder why a reputable agent would not have their contact details on a clear page of their site.A second tip would be to look out for client testimonials on a website. If other clients are happy to have their experiences and comments published by an agent you can bet that they would be happy to recommend the services of that agent.Another tip would be to call the developer direct. If you are dealing with an experienced agent who has good working relationships with the developers whose properties they sell, they would probably be happy for you to verify their authorised agent status with the developer.Murcia AgentsOne location that is currently seeing a rapid growth in terms of development and new residents is Murcia in Spain. Here you will find many new golf resorts being constructed by a variety of developers. It is fair to say that initially this was fuelled by the popular developer Polaris World who is constructing a number of luxury golf resorts in the area.Due to their success there are more and more resorts of a similar style being built in Murcia such as Hacienda del Alamo, Novo Carthago and Peraleja Golf Resort.These new types of resorts offer everything from golf to luxury hotels from spas to shops and restaurants, all located within a short stroll of the properties themselves.However, with the popularity of these resorts comes more “agents” from all over the world looking to cash in. Of course all estate agents are out there to make money but it has become even more important to choose carefully. For many people buying a holiday home abroad is realizing a dream, so much care and attention should be given to using the best agent. In all probability more than one agent will be contacted so don’t be afraid to ask some blunt questions. Ask if they have offices you can visit when you are out, ask to contact some previous purchasers of property in the resort to verify an agent’s integrity and never be “bullied” in to making a decision fast.Try and apply some basic logic when searching for an estate agent online:Were they helpful when you contacted them or did they try and pressure you?Did they know the area and developments well?How many have they sold in the development they are promoting?Can you see some testimonials or chat with some previous buyers?Any reputable agent with your best interests at heart should be able to provide some, if not all of the above information.Some developers even run additional schemes to indicate a higher level of agent credibility such as the Polaris World Golden Partner status, so where this applies always try and opt for an agent displaying the necessary authorizations as this means that in most cases, the developers themselves have conducted some due diligence on the agent before awarding the “higher” agent status.Other useful memberships to look out for are AIPP (Association of International Property Professionals) and NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents). Whilst these memberships can never provide 100% protection they do indicate that the agent in question has undergone additional due diligence and is willing to think about the image they promote.