You have decided to sell your apartment!
During your extensive research on how to proceed, you have found which platform to use, which official documents to obtain… but have you considered the costs that the sale of your property will generate?
A closer look at this often-overlooked financial burden.
Advertising Costs
It is very rare today to sell a property without using the internet. The reason is simple: all potential buyers are there and conduct their searches there! If you want your property to be visible, you must therefore place an advertisement on the various real estate platforms. Social media will also be invaluable in relaying your publication. Although very effective, these platforms are not free; these are the first costs generated by the sale of your property.
To enhance your listing, you need to know the recommended selling price of your apartment or house. You must therefore call upon a real estate agent or expert to carry out a reliable appraisal of your property. Furthermore, if you wish to have an attractive listing that will catch buyers’ attention, photos of your property are of paramount importance. Lighting, angles… to ensure accuracy, enlist a photographer specializing in real estate.
Paid Official Documents
When you put your property up for sale, in Brussels as well as in other Belgian Regions, you are required to make numerous official documents available to prospective buyers. These include, for example, the PEB (Energy Performance Certificate) or electrical certificates. It is also necessary to contact your municipal administration to obtain the various urban planning details related to your property, or at least to obtain all the necessary information to complete your sales file (e.g., title deed, property plans, etc.).
Once this first step is finalized, consult a notary. The notary will be responsible for requesting the soil certificate from Brussels Environment, as well as drafting the sales agreement, which will be submitted for signature to the prospective buyer(s). This last point is also part of the so-called “issuance fees” and is less known to the general public.
Selling My Co-owned Apartment
In this specific case, certain additional elements come into play. For example, you must obtain additional documents from the condominium trustee, such as the condominium regulations, a copy of the building’s maintenance log, or all elements related to the financial status of the co-ownership.
As the list of these documents is extensive, it is advisable to consult your notary to ensure a complete sales file, even if it involves additional costs.
Regional Specifics
Whether your property is located in the Walloon, Flemish, or Brussels Region, you will need to provide the same documents. Some may have different names in the north or south of Belgium, but the associated financial charges remain largely the same.
Additional Costs
To freshen up your apartment, you can repaint the walls white or enlist a home staging company. This way, your property will stand out from other available homes and sell quickly.
Indirect Costs
Finally, there are all those costs that are often overlooked but genuinely impact the sale of your property. These notably include the time and energy that you, as the owner, will invest in the sale. Answering the phone, organizing viewings, being available to answer buyers’ questions… You will not be able to work or enjoy your leisure time.
Saving Time and Money with a Real Estate Agency
A Complete Sales File
By selling your property in collaboration with a real estate agency, you benefit in every way. First, you save time, as the agent in charge of your apartment or house handles everything! “To facilitate the sale, the real estate agent’s mission is to obtain a complete, high-quality file so that the owner does not have to worry about anything,” explains Amaury Hermanns, founder of Hermanns Real Estate agency.
Furthermore, as industry professionals, real estate agents know impeccable service providers whose quality of work is well-established. “It is not uncommon for owner-sellers to be taken advantage of when selling their property themselves, right from the start of the process. They sometimes pay a high price, even though the quality of services is not up to par,” adds the Brussels real estate expert.
You therefore have a high chance of saving money by entrusting the sale of your property to a real estate agency. “In addition to these quality services, we guarantee fixed fees of 3% excl. VAT of the sale price. No unpleasant surprises with a real estate agency!” specifies Amaury Hermanns.
Availability and Responsiveness as Key Principles
In the context of a property sale, availability is key. Prospective buyers are often very active in their searches and will not always be willing to wait several days to view your property. If you do not respond to phone calls or emails in real-time, they will have already had the opportunity to visit several other properties and will certainly have found their ideal home elsewhere.
A Property Sale Concluded without Surprises
Finally, just because you have had several viewings and interested candidates does not mean your property is sold! “At this stage, it is crucial to know how to finalize the sale. Making a genuine offer, submitting official documents, etc. The owner risks losing a lot of money here, particularly by misunderstanding technical terms related to real estate sales. For example, they might confuse an option with a purchase offer, which are two very different things,” concludes Amaury Hermanns.
Are you planning to sell your property located in Brussels? Our real estate agency, Hermanns Real Estate, places its team of experienced real estate agents at your service and supports you throughout the process, for a quick and smooth sale. Contact us without delay!
