Selling a House: What to Consider

When selling a house, there are several things to keep in mind. This includes determining an asking price and presenting your property in the best possible way. Additionally, when enlisting the help of a real estate agent, making the right choice is crucial. Opt for a real estate agent with experience, extensive knowledge, and specific expertise regarding the selling area. For example, Amstelland Makelaars is a renowned expert on the Amsterdam housing market. There are various aspects to consider when selling your house, and they will all be discussed here.

Determining the asking price for your property is one of the initial steps. As a sales agent, we offer advice based on our expertise. If you plan to sell your house yourself, it's advisable to research the selling prices in your neighborhood. Consider factors such as the property's condition, living area, and type of house. You can also have the asking price determined by a appraiser based on a property valuation. This way, you can establish a realistic asking price.

When selling your house, it's essential to make your property look as appealing as possible. It's crucial to declutter your house to present a neat appearance. Moreover, it's important to put away personal photos during viewings. Ensuring your house is tidy is a minimum requirement, but you should also address any overdue maintenance. A fresh coat of paint can make a big difference, as can fixing loose skirting boards or repairing a leaking faucet. Additionally, if possible, aim for a neutral interior presentation. Repainting a purple wall white is a small effort but makes a world of difference.

The actual process of selling a house begins when photos of the exterior and interior are taken. Providing visual material is essential for potential buyers to gain a good impression. In addition to photos, it's also possible to create a floor plan of the property to make it available. Nowadays, it's popular to create a video of the interior or to take prospective buyers on a virtual tour of your house. When you choose Amstelland Makelaars, we work with professionals to capture photos and create videos.

Once photos and videos are taken, it's time to promote the sale of your house. Various channels can be used for this purpose. We, for instance, utilize property platforms like Funda.nl, Jaap.nl, and Huislijn.nl to attract attention to your property. We also leverage social media to expand the reach, including platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. In addition to online promotion, we also showcase your property in the window display of our office on Prinsengracht.

If you manage the sale of your house yourself, you must be prepared for viewings. You can then decide how many viewings there are and when they take place. You must be present to welcome and show potential buyers around your house. If you opt to enlist Amstelland Makelaars, we manage viewings, and we determine viewing days in consultation with you. You don't need to worry about it, and you only need to ensure your house is tidy.

In a competitive housing market, it's generally easy to sell your house, and there's a possibility that potential buyers might offer higher than the asking price. However, in a slower housing market, that's not always the case. You may need to be prepared for potential negotiations over the asking price. We are experienced in the negotiation process regarding the selling price and use this expertise to obtain an optimal outcome for you.

Once agreement is reached on the selling price of your house, the next step is to draft a sales contract. As the selling agent, we will prepare the sales contract, which will contain all the agreements related to the sale of your property. The sales price is specified in the contract, as is the date of your property's transfer. The sales contract is legally binding, but private buyers have three days of reflection time. During this period, they can withdraw from the agreement without providing a reason. It is also possible that the sales contract includes conditions, such as a financing clause.

The transfer of ownership occurs at the notary, and before this, an inspection round takes place. The buyer has the opportunity to check if everything in the sales contract corresponds to the actual situation. For example, if the sales contract states that the awning remains in place, the buyer can verify during the inspection if it's still there. It's also a good time to record meter readings. If there's a defect that has occurred between signing the agreement and the notarial deed transfer, it's something for the seller to address. It could be that, for a period, the seller is still responsible for any defects.

The inspection round is not meant to transfer the keys to your house to the buyer; this happens at the notary when all parties have signed the transfer deed.