Selling a House: everything you need to know
Are you planning to sell your house soon? Then, of course, you want the property to be sold as quickly as possible, and for a good price. But how do you make your house attractive to potential buyers? And how do you choose the best strategy to sell your property quickly and for a good price? In this article, we give you tips for a quick sale and advice to make your house as attractive as possible to buyers. We also help you make the right choice when it comes to selling with or without a Real estate agent, and give you information about the costs you can expect.
Go directly to:
- Tips to sell your house quickly
- All costs that you can expect when selling your property
- Selling a house with or without a Real estate agent
- What you should look out for when choosing a Real estate agent
- Information by city
Whether you want to sell an apartment, a terraced house or a detached house: with our tips you are well prepared to sell your place successfully. Want to know more? Then read how Mijn Verkoopmakelaar works.
All about selling your property:
Tips to quickly sell your house
On average, properties in the Netherlands are sold within three months. Not fast enough for you? Or has your house been for sale for a while and you want to accelerate the sales process? Then you can do the following:
Refurbish house and prepare it for sale
The more interested parties there are for viewing your property, the greater the chance of a quick sale for a good price. Therefore, do everything you can to make your house look its most attractive. A first impression is crucial for potential buyers. Make the house light and tidy, ensure the right temperature and a nice smell, and put flowers out for a positive atmosphere. Also, read the rest of our tips for getting your house ready for sale. Also, tackle any overdue maintenance before you put your property on the market. Focus on small improvements that yield the biggest results, such as repairing frames and skirting boards and removing mould in the bathroom. Read here how to tackle refurbishing your house for sale.
Sell to a real estate agent
There are real estate agents to whom you can sell your house. If you use them, you can be certain that your property will be sold, even if there is overdue maintenance or other factors that could normally obstruct a quick sale. A disadvantage is that the selling price is often lower than the market-conforming asking price. There are various reasons why people choose to sell their house to a real estate agent, such as a divorce or relationship break-up, double costs due to buying a new house, or moving in with a new partner.
Find a real estate agent quickly
Make sure you engage a good sales real estate agent who acts quickly and has a relevant and large network. At Mijn Verkoopmakelaar, we keep track of the average sales speed of the real estate agents in your area. If you use our platform, you can easily see which real estate agents work the fastest. They indicate in their response how quickly they expect to sell your property and at what price. To accelerate the sale, we recommend adding clear photos when registering on our platform. This increases the chance of responses and accelerates the sales process. Read our tips for choosing the right real estate agent and discover when you should bring in the sales real estate agent.
All the costs you can expect when selling your house
Selling your house involves certain costs. Think of real estate agent costs, but also other costs for, for example, the repayment of your mortgage and the application for an energy label. Below you can read which costs you should take into account so you won’t be surprised during the sales process.
Real estate agent costs
The costs you pay to a real estate agent consist of two parts: start-up costs and real estate agent commission.
Start-up costs
Sometimes there are start-up costs associated with selling a property through a real estate agent. These are fees you must pay before the actual sale of your house begins. Such fees might include the costs for drawing up a sales contract or creating a sales brochure. The costs usually range between 300 and 700 euros. Not all real estate agents charge start-up costs, so it is useful to know them in advance.
Commission
The regular costs for a sales real estate agent are also referred to as the real estate agent commission. Most agencies do not use a fixed rate, but base their fee on a percentage of the sales proceeds. Thus, the higher the selling price, the higher the commission. In the lower segment a fixed rate is often used, while in the higher segment a percentage is preferred. Commissions are higher in the Randstad than in other parts of the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, the average commission for selling a house is 1.12%. On average, selling a house in the Netherlands costs €5,101 (excluding VAT). Real estate agent costs can vary by office, ranging from hundreds to thousands of euros. Rates from internet-based or partially-serviced real estate agents tend to be lower.
Other costs
- Costs for energy label application: Also bear in mind the costs for applying for an energy label. This label is compulsory when selling a property and indicates how energy-efficient the property is, allowing potential buyers to better estimate the energy costs.
- Costs to prepare house for sale: It is wise to prepare your house for sale before listing it on the market. This might include repainting, replacing lighting, or performing various small tasks. The costs can add up, so be prepared.
- Mortgage costs: Finally, consider any mortgage costs. If you still have a mortgage on your house, you will need to repay it when you sell the property. Additional fees may include those for the notary and appraisal, so take these into account when setting your asking price.
Costs for the buyers (buyer's costs)
Buyer’s costs means that in addition to the purchase price, the buyer must pay several extra fees. These may include:
- An appraisal of the property
- The preparation of the notarial deed
- The transfer tax
- Possible advisory costs
Therefore, it is wise for the buyer to ensure there is enough budget to cover these additional expenses, aside from the purchase price. If these costs are not paid on time, the sale of the property cannot proceed. Read more about buyer’s costs.
More about the costs of selling a house:
Find the best real estate agent for the best price
At Mijn Verkoopmakelaar, you will find a wide range of experienced and professional real estate agents with competitive rates. Finding a real estate agent through our platform is simple and transparent. Register your property for free and without obligation and compare the responses based on results, budget and other characteristics. Also take a look at reviews and feedback from other customers. This way you can be sure that you are choosing the best real estate agent at the best price.
How it works
Do you want to find a real estate agent through Mijn Verkoopmakelaar? This is how it works:
- Enter your postcode and house number
- Add information about your property
- Upload (optional) photos of your property
- You will receive responses from real estate agents in your area, including a value indication and information about the costs of their services
- Invite one or more real estate agent(s) to get acquainted
- If you are satisfied with a real estate agent, you can engage him/her for the sale of your property.
Benefits of Mijn Verkoopmakelaar
- You save time, because real estate agents will send you a proposal without you having to contact them yourself
- The connected real estate agents are checked for reliability
- You can save up to 40% on costs (on our platform, real estate agents charge a sharp, competitive rate)
- You get the best end result for the sale of your property
Tip: it is advisable to add photos when registering, as this increases the chance of responses from real estate agents. In this way, they can make a better estimation of the sales opportunities.
- Receive proposals from multiple real estate agents
- Get clarity about the costs and expected revenue beforehand
- Choose based on performance and results
- Over 3000 people have gone before you
- Average 2% higher sales revenue
- Free & without obligation
Enter your postcode and house number and immediately receive your first proposals from the best real estate agents in the Netherlands
Find a sales agent- Safe
- Noncommittal
- Free
- Independent
Read more information about real estate agents:
Selling your house with or without a real estate agent?
If you want to sell your house, it's important to determine whether you want to engage a real estate agent or not. A real estate agent has specific knowledge and experience selling houses in your neighborhood. You will be completely unburdened and don't have to stress about legal matters, negotiations, and arranging good photos and viewings. Another advantage is that you can list your house on Funda (this can only be done through a real estate agent) and that the real estate agent can advise you on the presentation of your house, to attract as many potential buyers as possible. A downside of working with a real estate agent is that it costs money, although these costs are often covered by the sale proceeds.
It is also possible to sell your house without a real estate agent, for example if you already have a lot of experience selling houses or if you want to sell your house to a friend or family member. A downside of selling your house yourself is that you are responsible for determining the selling price, mediating during the negotiation process, and handling the legal red tape. Especially if it's the first time you're selling your own house, this can be a huge task.
Advantages real estate agent
If you choose to work with a real estate agent, he or she can help you with:
- Determining a good selling price
- Photographing and measuring your house
- Listing on Funda (this is not possible without a real estate agent)
- Everything around viewings
- Mediating during the negotiation process
- Drawing up the purchase agreement
Nowadays there are also real estate agents who offer partial services, where you only pay for the services you actually use. For example, you can choose to have mediation during the negotiation process, but create the sales brochure yourself. Or you ask the real estate agent to help you list your house on Funda and determine the selling price, but you handle the scheduling and arranging of viewings yourself.
There are also online real estate agents who charge lower commission than traditional real estate agents, but offer limited services in return. Therefore, it is important to look carefully at what the best option is for you. Do you find it important to be completely unburdened? And if so, in which areas? Or would you prefer to handle some tasks yourself at a reduced rate?
Find the best real estate agent
Choosing the right real estate agent is an important part of the process of selling your house. But how do you know which real estate agent is the best fit for you? Below you can read the characteristics you can compare real estate agents on.
What to consider when choosing a real estate agent
By comparing real estate agents based on the characteristics below, you make a well-considered decision about which real estate agent is the best fit for you. Determine in advance which points are most important to you, so you can make a decision more easily in case of doubt!
- Real estate agent costs: it is important to look at the real estate agent costs, because these costs can vary significantly. They can differ per real estate agent and per region and are also dependent on the services you use. Naturally, you will pay more if you are completely unburdened than if you only use a few partial services. Therefore, always compare multiple quotes with each other.
- Experience: it's also handy to look at the experience of the real estate agent, both in the profession and in the neighborhood where your house is located. This way you know for sure that you are working with an experienced professional who is well aware of the local market. This way you get the most out of the sale of your house.
Reviews & ratings: There is not really a good ratings website for real estate agents. The websites that do exist are usually not independent. Few real estate agents on funda have a low rating, most real estate agents score higher than an 8 there. The best way to check the quality is to look at the specific approach of a real estate agent for your house.
Trade associations: It is not easy to assess the quality of a real estate agent. A tool can be to look at whether the real estate agents are affiliated with a trade association. The most famous trade association is the NVM. In addition, there are two other major trade associations: VBO real estate agents and VastgoedPRO. These associations check the quality of their affiliated real estate agents.
- Expected returns: it is important to be on the same page with regard to the expected returns. Therefore, always ask the real estate agent for an estimate. Be open about the amount you have in mind. Does the real estate agent think the amount is too high or do you disagree about the asking price you want to use? Then ask a few more real estate agents about the expected returns and compare the estimates with each other. Maybe your amount is not realistic, or there is another real estate agent with whom you do agree.
- Click: last but not least, it is also important to see if you have a good click with the real estate agent, because you will be involved in the sales process for a long time. If you feel comfortable with the real estate agent, the chance of a good collaboration is greater.
- Additional services: Both local real estate agents and online real estate agents offer additional services at an extra cost. For example, taking photos by a professional photographer or making a video. These costs are added to the real estate agent costs and are independent of whether the property is actually sold or not. When comparing real estate agents, always check for which components extra costs are charged. For taking a picture, 3D floor plan or a video, typically no more than € 500 is asked.
Speak with multiple real estate agents: this way you can compare different quotes and get a good understanding of the approach and costs of different real estate agencies. We recommend speaking with 2 to 4 real estate agents before you make a decision, so you can compare well. Read here what questions you can ask real estate agents in an introductory interview.
On Mijn Verkoopmakelaar you can easily compare the best real estate agents in your neighborhood. You fill in a few questions about your house, and then get responses from the best real estate agents in your region. In the responses, they give an estimate of the selling proceeds and the sales chances and tell you what their agent commission is. Our service is free and completely non-binding: you determine if and with whom you want to get in touch. Try it now and find the best real estate agent for your house!
- Receive proposals from multiple real estate agents
- Get clarity about the costs and expected profit in advance
- Choose based on performance and results
- Over 3000 people have preceded you
- On average 2% higher sales proceeds
- Free & no obligation
Enter your postal code and house number and receive your first proposals from the best real estate agents in the Netherlands immediately.
Find a sales agent- Safe
- Non-committal
- Free
- Independent
Local information about selling your house
North Holland
South Holland
North Brabant
Gelderland
Utrecht
Overijssel
Limburg
Friesland
Groningen
Drenthe
Flevoland
Zeeland
Frequently asked questions about selling a property
What are the costs for the seller of a house?
As a seller, you only pay the costs for the Real estate agent. The costs consist of start-up costs and real estate agent commission. The average real estate agent fees for selling your home amount to €5,101. The remaining costs for selling your home are for requesting an energy label, refurbishing and preparing your home for sale, and any mortgage costs.
The transfer tax and the notary are paid by the buyer.
How long does it typically take to sell a house?
It takes about three to four months to sell your property. The selling speed can depend on your property, whether you are going to sell the property yourself or with the help of a real estate agent.
How much are the notary costs when selling your house?
This depends on the purchase contract. In most cases, the notary costs are paid by the buyers.
Can you sell a house to a real estate agent?
There are real estate agents to whom you can sell your house. If you use them, you can be sure that your property will be sold, even if there is a backlog of maintenance or other factors that could normally hinder a quick sale.
