A purchasing agent in 2023? A good idea right now
A purchasing agent in 2023? A good idea right now
The housing market is changing. The crowds are decreasing, prices are not rising as fast, you no longer have to visit with 20 people at the same time. A year ago you had little choice: you had to outbid as much as possible to have a chance, and as a home seeker you could not afford to be critical in your wishes. That is different now.
There is more housing supply and more room for negotiation. That makes it attractive, especially now, to engage a purchasing agent. That can give you a significant advantage.
More offer
There are more available homes and sales are not happening at the same speed for every home. At the same time, prices are still high. This means you have to choose: is that nice home worth the price? What about energy costs and options for sustainability? And is your dream home one that will be sold very quickly, or can you take some time to think about it?
A purchasing agent will advise you on these types of choices. They know how the housing market moves, how quickly you need to act and they can often accurately estimate the renovation and sustainability options. They also point out any disadvantages of a home. This way you have the certainty that you are really making the right choice.
More room for negotiation
Where a year ago you often had to overbid by tens of thousands of euros, nowadays more and more homes are sold below the asking price. However, there are still homes for which you should actually view the asking price as 'bidding from', because they are very popular.
As a buyer you obviously don't want to make a mistake, but you also don't want to overbid unnecessarily. A purchasing agent knows the house prices, has insight into previous sales and offers and helps you determine a realistic, promising offer.
Purchasing agent as a starter
As a starter, you don't have an easy time in the housing market. In some regions you hardly have a chance. Then you can put your savings to good use, and you may have doubts about the costs of a purchasing agent. However, a purchasing agent can actually increase your chances of purchasing, even if you have slightly less money left over.
A purchasing agent has more insight into new housing offers and can point out properties that you would not immediately think of. For example, in a nice neighborhood that you didn't know. Or a DIY home that scares you, but is actually easy to renovate. And if you make an offer with a purchasing agent, sellers also know that you are serious and will probably be able to arrange financing. You come across as more reliable, and that can be the deciding factor.
In short: reason enough for a purchasing agent
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to hire a purchasing agent. Now that the housing market is calming down a bit, you can take full advantage of it.
Are you now thinking: hey, good idea? You are always welcome for a no-obligation conversation ECHT Makelaars.
