Engel & Völkers: It all starts with people and for us, they are at the center
"Engel & Völkers actively participates in the major transformation of the Southern Suburbs, with a sense of responsibility and a forward-looking mindset": By George Petras, CEO Engel & Völkers Greece.
- 10/07/2025, 17:15
If someone were to ask me what Engel & Völkers’ most important achievement in the Southern Suburbs is, I wouldn’t mention sales, investments or numbers first. Not because they aren’t important — they are. But because all of this is the result of another, deeper achievement: the relationships that we built. The people who trusted us. Our team that evolves every day. The community that we shape together, step by step.
We have been watching the Southern Suburbs change for years. And we are not just spectators of this change; we are actively participating, with a sense of responsibility and orientation to the future. From day one, our philosophy has been clear: we want to be part of a positive urban transformation based on three core values — aesthetics, sustainability, and the human experience.
At Engel & Völkers, we don’t see real estate as a simple brokerage act. We see it as a tool for progress, social well-being, and collaboration. It’s not enough to bring a buyer and a seller together — you have to build a “bridge” of trust. You have to understand their needs and dreams. You have to respect the momentum of their lives. You have to acknowledge the dynamics of the place, the era, the region.
And that’s what we do. With professionalism, but also with sensitivity. With tools and technology, but also with personal care. For us, every new member of our team is a promise for tomorrow. Many of our people started with passion and today are among the company’s top associates. I am proud because we support our people substantially: with training, mentoring, open feedback, but also the freedom to develop at their own pace.
We invest in being here. Literally.
Because proximity, after all, counts. We want to be close to our customers — where life decisions are made, where new needs are created. That is why we are opening our new store in the heart of Glyfada. A modern, welcoming space, strategically located to be as accessible as possible.
It is not just a new address. It is proof that we listen and act. We want to be where the pulse of the market, society, and people’s everyday lives beats.
Not only a “high -demand area”
It is the point where quality of life is combined with perspective. Where the city meets the sea, aesthetics meets functionality and today prepares the ground for an even better tomorrow. From Glyfada and Voula to Alimos and Argyroupoli, we see neighborhoods transforming. Being regenerated. Moving up in status. With them, we are moving up too. And we owe this rise to all those who choose to invest, to stay, to create here.
That is why we always try to bring the best possible result, not only in terms of price or performance, but also in terms of substance. Our approach aims for the long term — not the ephemeral.
We turn trust into action
In our work, we are fortunate to talk to people who see the Southern Suburbs as more than a place to live. They see it as an investment field, as a scene of life, as inspiration. Everyone has their own starting point — families who want to raise their children close to nature, professionals who seek balance, investors who see the potential of the region.
Our role is to translate this trust into opportunity. And we do it together: with partners, with institutions, with architects and developers. But above all, with our team — with all those who work every day with consistency, empathy and faith in the result.
Our responsibility for development
And we take it on. No progress comes by chance. It is the result of choices. And our choices are based on the principles of sustainability, transparency, and respect for the environment, society, and our people. We have integrated ESG principles into every one of our strategies. Not because the times demand it, but because it is ethically right.
We ensure that the properties we manage reflect a better way of living. We collaborate with developers who understand the need for sustainable construction. We support initiatives that contribute to the local community. We are interested not only in growth, but also in how this growth benefits the whole.
Our everyday actions are the most powerful story we can tell. It’s not the headlines or the awards that make a company stand out. It’s the actions and the way it operates every single day.
And that’s how we continue — because the journey has just begun. Looking ahead, I see opportunities. And above all, I see us. The team of Engel & Völkers. The people who give their best every single day. Professionals with soul, who love what they do.
That’s what unites us. That’s what makes us South Rockers.
Published in “White Paper: The Big Business of the South”, NouPou Media’s special edition spotlighting the current landscape and future prospects of the Athens Riviera.