Save on estate agent commission: Can I sell my house without an estate agent?
Yes, in principle you can. But you need a lot of time and in-depth knowledge to sell your property profitably. The services of an estate agent are often underestimated. The successful sale of a property is always the result of perseverance and professionalism, based on a high level of expertise. The mixture of professional routine and a network of potential buyers are the basis for a successful sale. Especially if you are selling a property for the first time, you should not save on the estate agent's commission. This is the wrong approach. With an estate agent at your side, you avoid mistakes that can happen when selling a property. This will save you time, nerves and ultimately money.
Why can selling a house without an estate agent quickly overwhelm me?
When selling a property, the question always arises as to whether you should hire an estate agent or whether you could save yourself the estate agent's commission. From experience, I can say that selling a house without an estate agent is often too much for laypeople. Firstly, they underestimate the time involved. Especially when it comes to an attractive property, there can be an abundance of enquiries that need to be viewed and filtered. This then results in individual viewing appointments that have to be coordinated. The necessary routine and experience is also often lacking when it comes to obtaining all the necessary documents and creating an appealing exposé.
Why should I hire an estate agent?
Estate agents are experienced professionals with extensive knowledge of the local property market. They know which aspects to consider and can advise you on the best sales strategies. The estate agent you trust will accompany you through the entire process, from advertising the property to finalising the sale. They will advise you on all issues up to and including a realistic selling price.
Your estate agent will negotiate the best possible results in accordance with your wishes and interests. When you instruct an agent, you gain access to their extensive market knowledge and contacts, enabling quick property transactions at competitive prices. Your agent will also provide you with valuable property sales advice that can save you time and money.
When an estate agent handles the sale of your property, you can rest assured that everything will be handled properly and without delay. This gives you peace of mind throughout the entire sales process.
Overall, you should carefully consider whether it makes sense to save on the estate agent's commission or whether it is better to hire a qualified estate agent to help you sell your property.
What do I pay the estate agent's commission for?
Brokerage is a service that, like all services, has its price. However, this is not a net income, but the turnover.
The commission for the estate agent is currently 3.57% of the sales valuefor both the buyer and the seller. The estate agent may not demand more commission from the buyer than from the seller of the property. The estate agent must pay various taxes, health insurance, social security and pension insurance as well as IHK contributions, his office rent, advertising costs and his employees from the estate agent's commission.
What we offer our clients for the brokerage fee:
- Comprehensive advice and assessment of a realistic and achievable purchase price.
- Preparation of a valid energy performance certificate (mandatory since 2009).
- Inspection of files at the land registry, building authority, utility companies and the building file archive.
- The creation of pictures, a virtual tour and aerial photographs with the help of a drone by a professional photographer (we will of course also be happy to provide you with the pictures as a souvenir).
- Measurement of the living space using state-of-the-art technology.
- The creation of a high-quality sales exposé.
- Placement of adverts in all relevant property portals, e.g. Immowelt, Immonet, Immoscout etc., as well as on the company's own website.
- The property is offered exclusively to the estate agent's long-standing customer base in advance.
- Coordination and realisation of the individual viewings (individual and no mass processing).
- Creditworthiness check as well as mediation and coordination of local and international credit institutions.
- Procurement of construction companies, craftsmen, interior decorators and other service providers for your property.
- Coordination and drafting of a legally compliant, notarised purchase contract and joint discussion of the contract to clarify all outstanding issues.
- Accompanying you to the joint notarisation (we are the link between buyer and seller).
- Handover of the property with a detailed handover protocol.
What documents do I need for the property sale?
When selling property , it is important that the correct documents are available. It is also necessary to obtain or apply for the documents in good time. Your estate agent will apply for and obtain all the necessary documents required for the sale of your property. This way you can be sure that there will be no unnecessary delays. The necessary documents include, for example
- current and notarised extract from the land register
- site plan
- floor plan drawings
- Construction documents (e.g. building permit, construction plan)
- Cadastre and contaminated site cadastre plans
- List of ancillary costs
- Insurance documents (e.g. residential building insurance)
- Documents on renovations carried out
- Valid energy certificate
- Documents on living and usable space
- declaration of partition
- Housing benefit statement
- Minutes of the owners' meetings
Is a real estate agent also familiar with tax issues?
A real estate agent does not replace a tax advisor, but has in-depth knowledge of current legal and tax regulations. They can therefore help you to understand the tax implications of your property sale.