How a real estate agent can help you with your move in the Netherlands

The Netherlands continues to attract expats from all over the world due to its high standard of living, education and healthcare, as well as the desirable work-life balance and open, friendly culture. However, the process of buying a house can oftentimes be complicated, especially if you aren’t sure what to look out for. A real estate agent specialises in finding the right house for you, and will have indispensable knowledge of regional housing markets and financing options.

What services do real estate agents provide in the Netherlands?

When looking for a new house in the Netherlands, a real estate agent can provide a number of key services that will make the whole moving process a lot smoother for you and your family.

Finding properties

One of the first things you will do when meeting a real estate agent is have a meeting where they can explain the house buying process to you, as well as provide you with an overview of the costs associated with buying a house in the Netherlands and their fees. In this meeting, you will also get the opportunity to explain what you want from your new property. This could include anything from the number of bedrooms, the presence of a garden or the proximity to certain schools.

Once you have told your real estate agent what you want, the agent will then start to collect profiles of properties that best match your requirements. This saves you a lot of time searching for the perfect house yourself and, since real estate agents are particularly familiar with regional housing markets, they are in a good position to select a number of property profiles for you to consider quickly.

If you are looking for a house with specific features, like a traditional fireplace or a kitchen island, a real estate agent can often provide a lot more information than internet ads. An experienced agent will be well aware of the specific features each house has and will better match your requirements.

Organising viewings

Once you have selected a few houses from your agent’s selection, they can go ahead and start organising viewings for you. This primarily gives you the chance to look around the property and check whether it meets your expectations and requirements. It also allows you to check for any problems with the property, as well as identify renovations or repair work that might need to be carried out.

A real estate agent will have a good idea of the general condition of the property and will be able to point out any problems you might have missed. They will also be able to help you with any questions you have during the viewing and offer important information that will be vital when deciding on which property to move forward with. This information could be anything from the state of the plumbing to local pollution levels or the presence of asbestos.

Conducting administration and paperwork

A real estate agent is also invaluable when it comes to taking care of paperwork and administration. Your buying agent will be in close contact with selling agents, which not only allows them to obtain more information on the property, it also allows them to negotiate matters like finance and the transfer date on your behalf. It will also be your real estate agent that makes your offer to the seller.

Your real estate agent will also help you arrange a technical survey, which is an important part of the house-buying process. Your agent will also help with organising other important procedures, like the house valuation, requesting repairs and bookkeeping. A good agent will have a network of contacts, allowing you to quickly consult with other professional organisations for these matters.

Real estate agents will handle all the paperwork associated with the move, leaving you to be free to focus on other things. There is, probably quite unsurprisingly, quite a big amount of paperwork that has to be completed when you buy a house, everything from the contract, to specific clauses and written offers. An experienced agent will be thoroughly accustomed to the different files and forms that have to be filled out during a property transaction.

Make your move as stress-free as possible

A real estate agent is on hand to make your move as smooth and streamlined as possible, allowing you to take the time to focus on other important things like packing or sorting the energy bills or any of the number of things that need to be organised prior to moving day.

A good real estate agent won’t stop working to ensure you’re comfortable after you’ve visited the notary and been given the keys either. They will help you iron out any issues with your new home and, if needed, put you in touch with any professionals that you might need.