Since buying a house in the Netherlands is an important financial decision, preparation is vital.
Property buying checklist
Be an informed buyer and thoroughly examine:
- Available housing types in the Netherlands
- If this is the right location for your new home
- Information about rental contracts
Be fully aware of your financial / credit situation and budget. Keep a detailed record of:
- Current loan payments
- Monthly expenses (food, childcare, utilities, insurance, taxes etc.)
- Non-fixed / personal expenditures (medical expenses, entertainment etc.)
Get familiar with the Dutch mortgage procedures and estimate the mortgage payments. Finally, organise your move; contact different movers and ask for tailor-made offers beforehand.
House hunting in the Netherlands: Hints & Tips
- Who owns the house / property and why is he / she moving out?
- How many others are interested in the same house / property?
- How quickly does the seller need to sell?
- How long has the house been on the market?
- View the house during daytime to spot problems and if you are really interested, visit again at a different time of the day.
- Are home renovations necessary?
- Try not to view too many houses in one day.
- Keep detailed notes regarding the places you visit.
- Take your time and do not hesitate to ask as many relevant questions as possible.
- Inspect the neighbourhood.
- Seasonality could be an important factor; demand may be a bit lower during winter and autumn.
- During negotiations stay polite, cool and clearly show that you are fully informed.
- Do not get too attached to one property; usually, time is on your side.
- Avoid complicated procedures like bidding wars and sealed envelopes.
- Build a solid relationship with the seller. It could well be the case that there are many potential buyers like you so you need to stand out from the crowd.
- It may be harder for non-EU citizens due to stricter requirements.
