Are you looking for a buying agent in Utrecht? Do you comb critically through the listings on Funda every day in search of THE perfect home? Or does it feel as if hundreds of homes are being fired at you without any filter? Buying a house is different for everyone. Some people know exactly what they want, and others have no idea where to even begin. Or you're somewhere in between. Although everyone does it in their own way, the goal is the same: buying a house.
Contents
- Knowledge: training, experience and data
- The right questions
- Good preparation is half the work
- House or home
- Count your gains
As well as being an exciting (and exhausting) process, it also costs a lot of money. That's why many people think they can save on a buying agent. But have you ever considered that a buying agent can actually save you money? We'll tell you why.
Knowledge: training, experience and data
When you want to bring in a buying agent, you'd do well to choose an NVM estate agent. To join this association, an estate agent must have completed specific training and keep up their professional development every year. They must also abide by the NVM Code of Conduct. Gusto Casa is a member of the NVM, so as a client you're assured of expertise and reliability.
In addition, choose a buying agent who works in the town or area where you want to look for a house. To be able to advise you properly, it's essential that an estate agent knows the market well. On Podcast van een Huis, where Lindy was recently a guest, Marcel Dassen of Garantiemakelaars in Tilburg said he wouldn't dare to buy a home in Utrecht. Even though he has 25 years of experience in the estate agency business! Lindy sometimes calls herself 'a bit of a nerd', because she loves digging through all the data at her disposal. Because she does this regularly, she knows better than anyone how supply and demand fit together. Lindy knows the Utrecht housing market like the back of her hand, is aware of the municipality's future plans and knows how the atmosphere can differ per neighbourhood, or even per street.
The right questions
Everyone is different, and everyone's buying process is different too. That's why it's very important to state your expectations clearly when you visit different estate agents. To support you in the best possible way, we need to get to know you really well in a short time. This means we don't just ask the standard questions such as 'What type of home are you looking for?', 'How big does it need to be?' and 'What is your search area?'. We also ask, for example, what your ideal Saturday looks like. And whether you like inviting friends and family to your home for a 5-course meal you've cooked yourself, or would rather book a table at a good restaurant. Then, when we come along to a viewing, we can immediately see whether or not the home suits your lifestyle.
Good preparation is half the work
As the title of this paragraph says, good preparation is half the work. Why would you go and view a home that doesn't meet your requirements? By asking the right questions, we map out your requirements and wishes. When a suitable home comes on the market, we take a critical look with you at whether it meets your strict requirements. Does it have a bath? A nice bonus, but are there enough bedrooms too? Sometimes the charm of a house can throw you off, but we won't let that happen. It works the other way round too. We might spot a house that still needs some work, but you find it hard to see that potential in a home. We'd then be happy to help you draw up a plan, make it visual and present it together with a cost estimate. That way, you might just turn that ugly duckling into your dream home!
By analysing the listings with a critical eye, we don't view homes unnecessarily. That saves everyone time and energy, leaving you with more free time (and days off).
In addition, we always ask the selling agent for a home's documents before the viewing. The questionnaire in particular is important to go through carefully. A seller is obliged to mention defects in it. And as a buyer, you're obliged to investigate these thoroughly. So we go through the questionnaire in detail and ask the selling agent for clarification during the viewing if necessary.
House or home
When you view a home, there's all sorts to pay attention to: can I see any major defects, what are the possibilities of this home, and what does my gut say? Because buying a house is a big decision, that last question may well be the most important. Wouldn't it be nice, then, if someone else worried about everything else? During her training as an estate agent, Lindy learned an enormous amount about building construction. On top of that, her father used to be a building contractor, and in recent years Lindy & Gé have renovated 3 houses and an office. As a result, she can check whether a house is structurally sound at first sight. Because we take care of this, you can focus on your gut feeling. Sit down on the sofa and imagine what it would be like to live here. Can you see yourself sitting here more often?
It may happen that we advise you not to go ahead with a home. Even if you've secretly already been won over by the house's charm. Because of the rose-tinted glasses you've unconsciously put on, you're less sharp about the requirements you set. We're there to keep your feet on the ground. As Lindy often says: 'We support you like a knowledgeable friend.'
Count your gains
Yes, a buying agent costs money. Which services are provided, and what is charged for them, differs from agency to agency. That's why it's important to do your research properly and give the job to the buying agent who understands you and suits you.
What you pay for is guidance through the process. We're there for you from start to finish and are happy to answer all your questions. But even if you know exactly what you're looking for, bringing in a buying agent can be a smart move. We take a lot of worries off your hands: a critical look at the home before and during the viewing, well-founded advice on the offer you want to make, and a purchase agreement that is carefully checked and explained to you. Just to name a few. That way, you can still enjoy this adventure a little, too.
We know the Utrecht housing market like no one else, so we can always give you well-founded advice on the offer you want to make. The market is constantly changing, and a home's asking price can respond to this market in different ways. One estate agent aims high and is open to negotiation, while another hopes to attract a larger audience with a lower asking price and so reach the desired transaction price through supply and demand. Many people let themselves be guided by gut feeling or by percentages 'they should overbid by', and end up bidding far above the rest as a result. With our knowledge, experience and access to handy data, we can advise you on this. And that could easily save you thousands of euros! That's how a buying agent usually earns you more than what you pay for his or her advice.
