These days you can easily sell your house yourself. With a few photos and an advert, your home is online in no time. Even so, many sellers choose a selling agent. Not only for convenience, but mainly because an estate agent can add value at various points in the sales process.
In this article we explain what a selling agent does and what they can add to the entire sales process.
1. Setting a realistic asking price
One of a selling agent's most important tasks is determining a good sales strategy. To do this, the agent looks at, among other things, comparable homes, recent sales, the location and the condition of the home.
An asking price that is too high can put potential buyers off. A price that is too low can cost you money unnecessarily. The art is to choose a price that suits both the market and the desired sales strategy.
2. Getting your home ready for sale
A selling agent looks at your home with a critical eye. Which rooms deserve extra attention? Are there small improvements that could strengthen the presentation? And how do you make sure potential buyers can clearly see the home's possibilities?
The agent can also advise on styling, photography, floor plans and the presentation of the home. Selling agents also often work with regular photographers, stylists and other people who handle property presentation, which means they can bring them in quickly.
3. Bringing your home to buyers' attention
A good presentation is important, but potential buyers of course also need to be able to find your home.
A selling agent arranges the listing on property platforms and can also use their own network and marketing channels. This brings the home to the attention of people who may be interested. One example of a property platform where only estate agents can advertise is Funda (the main Dutch property portal). As a private seller you cannot use it, which considerably reduces visibility.
4. Organising and hosting viewings
Viewings take time and expertise. An estate agent takes the planning and hosting of viewings off your hands.
But the added value is not just in opening the door. An experienced agent knows what questions buyers have, can explain the home's key features and often picks up signals during a viewing about how serious an interested party is.
5. Assessing offers
An offer is more than just an amount.
A selling agent also looks at the conditions attached to an offer, such as a financing condition, a building survey and the preferred transfer date.
This allows you to compare offers better. Sometimes a slightly lower offer with more favourable conditions turns out to be more attractive than the highest offer. A selling agent can advise you well on this, so that in the end you choose the best offer.
6. Negotiating on your behalf
Negotiating about your own home can be difficult. After all, selling involves emotion, and it can be hard to look at an offer with detachment.
A selling agent stands beside you and conducts the negotiations on your behalf. With knowledge of the local market and experience in negotiating, the agent can try to get the most out of the sale without making the process unnecessarily confrontational.
7. Guiding the legal and practical process
Once an offer has been accepted, the home has not simply been transferred. Next come the purchase agreement, the statutory cooling-off period, any conditions under which the sale can be cancelled and, finally, the transfer at the notary.
A selling agent keeps an eye on the agreements and the timeline and makes sure important steps are not overlooked.
What does a selling agent ultimately bring you?
The most important added value of a selling agent probably lies in the combination of knowledge, experience, negotiation and guidance.
You do, of course, pay courtage (commission) or an agreed fee. In return, you do not have to figure everything out yourself, and an estate agent stands beside you throughout the whole process.
Whether an estate agent pays for themselves financially differs per home and situation. However, a good sales strategy, strong negotiation or avoiding a wrong decision can make a considerable difference.
Sell it yourself or hire an estate agent?
Selling yourself can be attractive if you like to arrange everything yourself, have time for viewings and want to learn about the housing market in depth. It is important, though, to put time and energy into understanding how a sales process works.
A selling agent can be the better choice if you want to be relieved of the work, know the local market less well or want to get the most out of the sale.
The key, therefore, is not just to look at what an estate agent costs, but above all at what you get in return.
A good selling agent does more than sell your home. They help you make better choices throughout the entire sales process.
Selling your home? Choose the agent who really sells.
Koops Makelaardij sells more than 100 homes a year in the Kennemerland region, making it one of the most active selling agents in the area. With offices in Haarlem, Amsterdam and Amstelveen we serve a wide area — but always with local knowledge and personal attention.
Our approach: a sharp valuation, professional presentation and a proven sales strategy that puts your home in front of the right people. No empty promises, just results.
Get in touch with Koops Makelaardij or call us on +31 23 532 9817.
