Relocate in Chania Retymno area

I'm helping Italian friends who want to relocate in Crete. They have approached an agent/guide who was supposed to scout available houses for yearly rental and sort out all the paperwork. It was a disappointment verging on fraud. My friends were shown just a few properties not responding to the needs previously expressed and then accompanied to local real estate agents whom the guide approached saying: "anything new on the market"'? All this cost quite a lot , plus travel and hotel and it turned out a failure. Has  someone had a better experience?  Is it so difficult to find a 2 bedroom maisonette or apartment with sea view, terrace or balcony or and garden, not too isolated but in a quiet area? Thank you for all who may be able to help. Georgia