Valuation: what the home is really worth

Why the asking price does not tell you what a home is worth

In a market where many homes sell above the asking price, a proper valuation is the difference between an offer that stands no chance and an offer that lands without shortchanging yourself. The asking price is the seller's starting point, not a reflection of the real value.

So we do not look only at the asking price. Your dedicated agent assesses the property on the spot during the viewing and sets that against what comparable homes in the area have recently fetched.

You may recognise this: you made an offer on a home in Amsterdam, Zaandam, Hoorn or Alkmaar and lost it because you estimated too low. Or you offered too much, because you had no idea what was reasonable. A valuation takes the guesswork out.

What we look at in a valuation

A valuation is a substantiated estimate of what a home is worth at this moment. That is different from a taxatie: an official report by a certified valuer, usually needed for your mortgage. You engage that separately.

For the valuation of the home you want to buy, we look at:

• recent sales of comparable homes in the same neighbourhood or street, through the NVM exchange system
• the condition of the property: maintenance, layout, insulation and what needs doing in the short term
• the location, the garden, whether the land is owned or leasehold (erfpacht) and other things that affect the value
• market pressure in that specific area: how much interest there is, how quickly homes go
• what all of this means for your offer and your bidding strategy

The valuation is part of the fixed fee

Some parties advertise a free valuation of a house in Zaandam or Hoorn, separate from a purchase. That is often a way into a conversation about selling.

With us it works differently. The valuation of the home you want to buy is part of the buying support and is included in the fixed fee of €2,499. No separate invoice, no surprise afterwards, however many viewings and rounds of negotiation are needed.

That works in your favour. Because our fee is fixed, we do not earn more when you pay more for the home. With commission, a percentage of the purchase price, the invoice rises along with your offer. That interest does not exist here.

Note: all-in refers to our agent's fee. Transfer tax, notary fees, a valuation report, a building survey and mortgage advice are paid separately to the parties who do that work.

From valuation to offer, anywhere in the Netherlands

Whether you are looking for a valuation of a home in Amsterdam, in Hoorn or something comparable in Alkmaar: your dedicated agent assesses the property during the viewing and then decides on the bidding strategy together with you. We work throughout the Netherlands.

The same agent stays with you from the first call to the handover of the keys. So the person who saw the property is also the one who negotiates for you.

You are not committed to anything. Request your proposal without obligation and tell us which home you have in mind, or what you are looking for. We will then call you.