Many house hunters engage a real estate agent to help them with their search. An agent offers more security, especially in the negotiation stage. You can do this by yourself as well – that is entirely up to you. The following tips when buying a house in the Netherlands might be useful for you.
"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"Tip 1: Check the value of comparable homes","richBody":{"value":"On request, the Land Registry in the Netherlands (‘het Kadaster’) can tell you when comparable houses within a postcode area were sold and for what price. They charge a fee of about €15 for this service. Don’t forget to check homes in the area that are comparable to the property you have in mind in terms of living space and outdoor space. What price are they asking?
"}},{"title":"Tip 2: Check the current and historical values of the house","richBody":{"value":"Ask the Land Registry when the current owner bought the property, and what they paid for it. You can also request a free ING Calcasa Desktop valuation (in Dutch) from one of our advisors, with an indication of the property’s current value.
Tip: If the home has been for sale for a while, there’s probably room to negotiate the asking price. Find out why the property hasn’t been sold.
"}},{"title":"Tip 3: Want to know the condition of the property? Ask for a structural survey to be carried out","richBody":{"value":"A construction report or structural survey costs on average between €300 and €500 on average. You will then receive a report listing any issues with the property, so you’ll know what costs you are likely to incur in the short and long term. If you have the survey carried out before making an offer, you can use the information it reveals as leverage when negotiating the price of the property. Another way to get insight in what you buy is Woningcheck. This also states whether there is an increased risk of foundation damage.
"}},{"title":"Tip 4: Put your offer in writing","richBody":{"value":"If you made an offer over the phone, make sure you always confirm what you have offered in an e-mail. Having everything in black and white prevents possible confusion. And don’t forget to add a personal touch when making your offer. Let the seller know who you are and why you really want to live in the property.
"}},{"title":"Tip 5: Don’t forget your deal-breaking conditions","richBody":{"value":"If you are making an offer should include:
Obtaining financing
If you’re not sure that if you can get a mortgage, then make your offer subject to obtaining financing for the full asking price. This allows you to cancel the purchase without a fee if necessary. This fee is usually a certain percentage of your offer.
Tip: Your offer will be more attractive if part of the price is not subject to any deal-breakers. If you’re investing some of your own capital, such as savings, a donation or home equity, the amount subject to financing can be reduced.
Structural survey
Maybe you didn’t have a structural survey carried out before making an offer, or you still need to study the zoning plans? Or perhaps a soil survey is necessary? Include the results in your deal-breakers. If a survey reveals all kinds of unexpected technical defects in a property, you can cancel the purchase.
"}}]},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Remember: you always have a three day cooling-off period to think about it","richBody":{"value":"Winning bid? Then you will sign the purchase contract. The Dutch law gives you a three day cooling-off period (in Dutch) during which you can cancel the purchase without any reason. Your cooling-off period starts on the day after you and the seller have signed the purchase contract. During your 3-day cooling-off period you can still cancel the purchase.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"A free orientation meeting sets you up for success"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Good preparation is half the battle. It puts you in a stronger position when you know how much you can pay for the property. Schedule a free orientation meeting with one of our mortgage advisors mortgage advisor to discuss the range of options open to you. No strings attached. You'll feel more confident making your first offer.
"}},{"componentType":"cta","textLink":{"url":"https://www.ing.nl/en/personal/mortgage/contact/cmnl-english?subscrid=cmnl-mort-engelstalig","text":"Schedule a free orientation meeting"}}]},"legalZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Good to know","richBody":{"value":"The English text of the website is a translation of the Dutch original version. This translation is intended for the customers convenience only. In case of any discrepancies between the two versions, the original Dutch version shall prevail. The mortgage offer and contract will be signed in Dutch. Also, all further communication after signing the mortgage contract will be in Dutch. You acknowledge and accept this. If any assistance or clarification is needed, we recommend contacting your mortgage advisor or to call our customer service via the ING app.
"}}]}}}