If you want to sell your property, you can either sell it yourself or enlist the help of a real estate agent. The majority of sellers opt for support from a professional. But around a third of property owners initially try it on their own. Many of them change their minds and prefer to rely on an estate agent, because the sales process is quite complicated.
In this article, you will find out what tasks are involved in selling a house, how you can sell a property quickly and what other things are important when selling. With this knowledge and our list of advantages and disadvantages, you can decide whether you want to sell your house with or without an estate agent.
What tasks are involved in selling a house?
For property owners who decide to sell a house on their own, it is often a surprise how many tasks are involved in selling a house. If you are selling with an estate agent, you will benefit from the fact that the agent will take care of most of these tasks for you.
The following steps are essential for selling a house:
- Determine the target group for the property: First analyze the advantages and disadvantages of your property. This is important for the presentation. You will also find out which target group is most likely to be interested.
- Set the price: The next step is to price the property. This is a fine art that requires, among other things, a thorough knowledge of the market. Make sure you are well informed about current prices of comparable properties and have the value of the property assessed by an expert – we will be happy to do this for you!
- Create an exposé: The time of sale is very important for the presentation of the property. Depending on the type and features of your property, certain seasons may be suitable. Spring and summer are particularly popular, because then you can take beautiful photos and benefit from the daylight. It is often worth carrying out some renovations at this stage, which ultimately lead to a higher sales price.
- Organize viewings: You should advertise the exposé on various platforms. Then it’s time to sift through the initial inquiries and arrange viewing appointments. With the help of home staging services, the property can be presented in a particularly attractive way.
- Negotiate the purchase price: Now negotiate the price with the interested parties. The advertised property price is usually around 10% higher than the minimum price you would like to achieve. Be careful not to let your emotions get the better of you.
- Compile documents: You should present all the necessary documents, such as a valid energy certificate and an extract from the land register, at the latest at the notary appointment.
- Draw up the purchase contract: With the help of a notary or estate agent, the next step is to finalize the purchase contract. It is best to ask a lawyer for assistance, as this will ensure that the contract does not contain any pitfalls.
- Plan the handover: As soon as the purchase contract has been signed and you have received the purchase price, you can hand over the property. Read this article to find out what you need to bear in mind.
How much does it cost to sell a house?
In addition to the preparatory work mentioned above, you should determine exactly what costs you will incur when selling your house. These include items such as the estate agent’s commission and expenses for renovations. But the repayment of a mortgage and the taxes incurred are also important elements.
Our tip: Ask your tax advisor to help you plan your house sale financially.
How can I sell my house quickly?
Good planning is essential for a quick house sale. You can save a lot of time by preparing all the documents in good time. Early pricing is also helpful. In principle, selling a house with an estate agent is quicker than selling a house on your own.
Plan several months for the house sale. Only properties in prime locations and in high demand sell faster. Nevertheless, it is important to take your time and check all documents thoroughly before finalizing the house sale.
What do you have to deregister when selling a house?
In principle, you do not have to deregister existing services such as water, gas and electricity when selling your home. Consult with the buyer individually, as they may take over these services seamlessly. If he does not wish to do so, it is your responsibility as the seller to cancel the services.
Be sure to notify all major providers of the change of ownership. This includes these services, among others:
- Water
- Electricity
- Gas
- Building insurance
You should also inform your tenants, if any. You can find out more about what the change of ownership means for the tenancy here.
How do I sell a house without an estate agent?
Selling a house without an estate agent is a lot of work, but it also has some advantages. The following reasons speak in favor of putting the property on the market on your own:
- You avoid paying an estate agent’s commission, which averages 2 to 3 percent of the purchase price.
- You can set the selling price yourself, although the help of a professional valuer is very helpful.
- You have full control over the schedule for viewings, for example, without having to take an estate agent’s calendar into account.
- You also have a free hand when it comes to marketing, which is very straightforward, especially on online platforms. This enables you to design your real estate advertisement exactly to your taste.
- You act as a neighborhood expert because you have local experience and can therefore convince the prospective buyer on the basis of personal arguments.
However, please also note that selling without an estate agent requires a great deal of effort and time. You should only opt for this if you already have experience in the field. Thorough knowledge of the real estate market is also crucial.
For private sellers, there is also the risk of emotional attachment, which can influence the sales process. Objectivity and the acceptance of buyer feedback are major challenges here, especially when selling family homes. In order to organize the negotiations rationally, you should know early on what your final price will be and what concessions are conceivable.
What are the advantages of selling with a broker?
On the other hand, you should consider the advantages of selling with an estate agent. It is best to do this as early as possible in the sales process so that you can be accompanied from the outset if you decide to seek professional support.
The following are the advantages of selling real estate with an estate agent:
- Estate agents can determine a fair market value and work with you to develop a sound pricing strategy so that the best possible sale price can be achieved for you.
- Agents know the market and the neighborhood, so they can find the ideal time to sell and present your property in the best light.
- Brokers are objective and are not guided by emotions. They are therefore in a particularly good position to conduct sales talks.
- Estate agents will prepare the exposé for you, including professional photos. Brokers can also obtain the necessary documents for you, which often saves a lot of time.
- Estate agents organize the viewings and can also carry them out for you so that you have less work to do.
- Estate agents know good notaries and can also advise you on the purchase contract.
Remember, however, that a commission is payable when working with a real estate agent. In addition, you are usually not the broker’s only customer, so it is important to define communication preferences.
How do I recognize a good broker?
A good estate agent is a service provider who will take care of everything for you, from the initial consultation, marketing and sale through to handing over the keys. This takes a lot of work off your hands and also allows him to provide you with comprehensive advice. Properti accompanies you as a full-service real estate specialist even up to the notary appointment. Find out more about our services here.
You can recognize a good broker by these points:
- He has reference customers who make positive comments.
- He has a lot of experience, the right training and only works on a success basis.
- He only charges the commission, but no further costs.
- He communicates transparently and openly.
- He achieves a good price without making you unrealistic promises.
- He is trustworthy and gives you a good gut feeling.
In our broker comparison you will find 7 more tips on how to recognize a good broker.
As you can see, selling a house without an estate agent is only recommended in a few cases. At the same time, it is not possible to get a broker without commission. Nevertheless, the estate agent, who achieves the best results with his numerous house selling tips, is worthwhile for almost every seller.
All data are without guarantee. The information on these Internet pages has been carefully researched. Nevertheless, no liability can be assumed for the accuracy of the information provided.
