I want to know more!

Yes, this is allowed. Negotiations don’t always lead to a sale, and the seller will likely want to know if there is additional interest. The selling agent may also negotiate with multiple potential buyers at the same time, but must clearly inform all parties. In practice, the agent will often tell interested parties that an offer has already been made or that negotiations are ongoing. However, the agent will not disclose the amount of any offers, as this could encourage overbidding.

Yes, this is allowed. Sometimes there are so many interested buyers offering or approaching the asking price that it becomes difficult to determine who the best buyer is. In such cases, the seller—on the advice of their agent—may decide to change the bidding process, for example to a closed tender. In this process, all bidders get an equal chance to submit their offer. Of course, the agent must first honor any previous commitments or agreements before changing the process.

No, this is not required. The seller, together with the seller’s agent, decides whom they want to enter negotiations with. As a buyer, be sure to ask the agent about the sales procedure in advance to avoid disappointment.

When the buyer and seller agree on the key terms—such as price, transfer date, any contingencies, and arrangements for movable property—the seller’s Vastgoednederland agent will draw up the purchase agreement.  
The sale is only finalized once both parties have signed the purchase agreement. Contingencies (ontbindende voorwaarden) are an important point of attention. If you want to include them in the contract, this must be negotiated during the buying process. As a buyer, you do not automatically have the right to include contingencies. Buyer and seller must agree on any such terms before the agreement is drafted.  
Examples of common contingencies include financing conditions, a negative result from a building inspection, failure to obtain National Mortgage Guarantee, or the No-Risk clause.  
The sale is only legally binding once the agreement is signed by both parties. This requirement stems from the Dutch “Wet Koop onroerende zaak” (Law on Property Sales) and is known as the requirement for written form. A verbal or email confirmation is not sufficient.  
Once both parties have signed and the buyer has received a copy of the contract, the statutory cooling-off period begins (see question 6). Within this period, the buyer can still withdraw. After that, the sale is final—unless one of the agreed contingencies comes into effect.

The legally established three-day cooling-off period means that you, as the buyer, can cancel the purchase without giving any reason. The three-day period begins as soon as a copy of the signed purchase agreement has been handed over to the buyer.  
The cooling-off period may last longer than three days if it ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday. There are specific rules for this. The Vastgoednederland agent can tell you exactly when your cooling-off period ends.

As a buyer, you have a duty to investigate. You are expected to assess the condition of the property. Any defects you could reasonably have discovered during the viewing are your responsibility and cannot later be claimed as hidden defects.  
The seller has a duty to disclose any issues that could be important to the buyer. This includes serious or unexpected defects, such as a leak. These, along with any disclosed issues, can be factored into the negotiations.

As the buyer, you may choose the notary who will handle the property transfer. This notary will also cancel the seller’s mortgage rights. There are costs associated with cancelling these rights, which are the seller’s responsibility. The fees for cancelling a mortgage can vary significantly between notary offices.

The seller’s agent represents the interests of the seller and will advise them throughout the sales process. For that reason, the seller’s agent cannot and may not represent your interests as well. However, they are allowed to share relevant information with you.

Vastgoednederland applies the General Consumer Terms and Conditions. The most recent version can be found at https://vastgoednederland.nl/algemene-voorwaarden or obtained directly from us.

You are only in negotiations with the seller once they respond to your offer with a counteroffer or explicitly state that you are in negotiations. You are not yet in negotiations if the selling agent simply says they will discuss your offer with the seller.

Next to each listing, there’s a button with a heart icon. Clicking this will add the property to your favourites. You can find your saved favourites under the ‘My Favourites’ menu item at the top of the navigation bar.

You can find your saved favourites under the menu item ‘My Favourites’ at the top of the navigation bar.