Questions and Answers

There is a big discussion on whether to rent or buy in the Netherlands. There used to be a general rule-of-thumb that said if you were to reside in the Netherlands for more than five years and if you would be paying more than EURO 1,250 per month in rent, then a house was a worthwhile investment. While this is still generally true, there could be another of other variables that influence this rule.

It is also wise to first do some basic research into whether you are eligible for a mortgage and the sorts of mortgages available. The general basic requirements for a mortgage of up to four times your gross salary are: resident in the Netherlands for a period of more than five years, in permanent, full-time employment or self-employed and able to produce accounts (by a recognised accountant) for the past three years as well as a prognosis for the current year. These are general guidelines only as individual circumstances can vary and some mortgages can be arranged outside these guidelines.

The Amsterdam housing market is overheated for quite some time now! The demand exceeds the supply, resulting in higher prices when compared to a few years ago.
In Holland the renting prices are partly controlled by the government issued "point system" based on a large number of criteria, such as:
# Square meters
# Number of rooms
# Toilet in the bathroom or separate
# Bathtub or just a shower
# Available storage space
# Parking etc.
# Single glass/double glazing
# Area
# Separated or open kitchen

If the apartment gets less than 142 points the property is listed under "social housing". Those apartments cannot be rented by an owner, but by the city council property service ( Dienst Wonen ) who appoints tenants and sets the rental price with a maximum of
€631,73 ( 1st of July 2008).
If the property gains 142 points or more, it is categorized under "liberalized sector". When a property is liberalized, the owner is in title to rent the property out himself, and set a rental price.

Yes, we have a license from the Amsterdam city government.
License number is: Dienst Wonen HW 92366

Yes, all our accommodations are rented according to the criteria and rules of the Amsterdam city government, which means that registering at the address is possible.

There are 2 possibilities.
1. The owner keeps the bills on his/her name. At the check-in, the numbers on the meters are included in the contract. At the check-out, the meters are checked again, and tenant pays or receives the difference.
2. The owner disconnects the gas and electricity. Tenant has to go the gas and electricity company, with the rental contract, and have it connected on his/her name.
Option 1 is more common.

the accommodation carrying an inventory list and an inspection report. The tenant has to sign this list, and see to it that all the furniture on the list should be present when we perform the check-out.

In some cases, but we always have to check with the owner. One can imagine that the owner of a very luxuriously furnished accommodation is not too keen on allowing pets.

Yes, the standard is as follows:
- For a fully furnished accommodation there is a 2 months deposit
- For a decorated accommodation there is a 1 month deposit.

We advise our clients to start their search 2 weeks to 1 month prior to their arrival in the Netherlands. Longer than 1 month creates a risk that the accommodation you are aiming for is rented. Shorter than one month is no problem. The closer to the actual entry date, the better!

Housing You Makelaars operates in Amsterdam and it's direct surroundings.

When successful, we charge a onetime fee equal to 1 month rent excl. 19% V.A.T.
Our service is based on " No cure - No pay"!

Housing You Makelaars is a young and modern real estate company. We cut our overall costs with not having to many personnel, not driving expensive cars, working efficient with the latest technology provided. The benefit of saving on our cost is returned to our customers; You!  

You will find our characteristic office centrally located in Amsterdam on the Kinkerstraat 12-C, Oud West (close to the Leidseplein).

Adress:
Housing You Makelaars
Kinkerstraat 12-C
1053 DT Amsterdam
t. 020-6242627
f. 020-4681881
e. info@housing-you.nl
w. www.housingyoumakelaars.nl

Brokers:
Mr. Rik Spoelstra (06-21507735)
rik@housing-you.nl

Mr. Vincent Kniep (06-21104102)
vincent@housing-you.nl

We are opened from Monday till Friday from 9:00 AM till 18:00 PM. On request we make appointments after office hours or on Saturday's because we understand that a busy job is difficult to leave for a few hours!

Our sales strategy is based on a full-service concept. We guide you through the entire selling process with a personal approach and good advice, from intake to after sales. First an experienced broker will come to the house to look at the details and to discuss the possibilities with you. After that, a sale strategy will be determined in order to achieve the projected goals.

A short list of our way of working:

* Window presentation: our office is located at the Overtoom, with 24/7 a lot of traffic. A better way to be seen on the move is not thinkable!
* Brochures: In order to give as much information about your house as possible we will create a brochure which can be handed out during visits or be downloaded for free from our website.
* A very important part of the possibilities to get the best attention for a house nowadays is being visible on internet. Not only will the house be presented on our own website, Housing You Makelaars will provide ads on all major websites such as Funda.nl, zoekallehuizen.nl,huislijn.nl, Dimo.nl and many more.

Of course we can give you advise about buying or renting a house in Amsterdam. For general information click here for the official website of Amsterdam.
If you want to see the different districts in which Amsterdam is divided click here.

You are only in negotiation once the vendor has responded to your offer by making a counteroffer. You are not in negotiation when the vendor's broker says that he/she will discuss your offer with the vendor.

Yes, this is permitted. Negotiations will not necessarily lead to a sale. For example it is possible that negotiations are underway with several prospective buyers.

The vendor's broker will often tell interested parties that a property is ‘under offer'. As an interested party you are entitled to make an offer but the broker can only enter negotiations with you once negotiations with the first interested party have been concluded. The Housing You Makelaars broker is not permitted to make any statement about the offers. This could lead to outbidding.

No. The Supreme Court of the Netherlands has ruled that the asking price should be seen as an invitation to make an offer. Even if you offer the asking price the vendor can decide to accept your offer or have his broker make a counteroffer.

Housing You Makelaars provide all it's service on a basis of no cure -no pay! You'll pay our fee when you have signed the  last contract at the notary.

Yes, the vendor can decide to increase or decrease the asking price. In addition as a prospective buyer you may also decide during the negotiations to decrease your offer. As soon as the vendor makes a counteroffer your previous offer lapses.

Once the vendor and the buyer have reached agreement on the most important points (the price, the date of transfer and the resolutive condition), the agreements will be set out in a contract of sale made by a civil-law notary. Resolutive conditions are an important aspect. As the buyer, you will not automatically get a resolutive condition. If you for example require a resolutive condition for the finance, you must state this when making your offer. It is important that the parties agree on any additional agreements and resolutive conditions before the contract of sale is drawn up.

As soon as both parties have signed the contract of sale, and the buyer has received a copy of this contract, you have a three-day reflection period. During these three days you are entitled to cancel the purchase. If you decide to buy the property the transfer will take place with the civil-law notary on the agreed date of transfer.

Yes, this is permitted. If there is more than one interested party willing to pay the asking price (or more) the vendor's broker - in consultation with the vendor - may decide to discontinue the current negotiations and change the offers procedure. For example to a registration procedure. This gives all bidders an equal opportunity to make the highest offer. Before changing the system, the broker must of course fulfill any agreements already entered into.

The asking price is determined after consultation between the vendor and his or her broker. An interested buyer is entitled to negotiate, but the vendor decides.

No. The vendor's broker will determine the sale procedure with the vendor. He/she is obliged to inform you of the procedure. However, if you are seriously interested make this clear to the broker. This can prevent disappointment.

No. The ‘purchasing costs payable by the purchaser' includes the costs the government associates with the transfer of a property. This is a transfer tax (6%), the notarial charges for drawing up the deed of transfer of title and the cost of the inclusion there of in the registers. In addition, the buyer should take the (notarial) costs for the drawing up and registration of the mortgage deed into account. If the vendor used a real estate broker to sell the house the costs are at his/her expense. After all, the vendor's broker represents the interests of the vendor and not yours as the buyer.

This is why you should hire a Housing You Makelaar real estate broker. The real estate broker's commission for the buyer's broker is at the buyer's expense.