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Preferably before you make an offer. This gives you time to consider the property documents, risks and conditions before deciding. You can also get in touch during your search to discuss your priorities and which homes would suit you.

No. There is no percentage that works for every property. Compare relevant recent sales and consider the condition, location, leasehold and owners’ association. Set your own limit too: a competitive offer only makes sense if the home and its costs suit your circumstances.

Look beyond the viewing and review the legal and technical documents: freehold or leasehold, the division documents, owners’ association records, measurement report and known defects. List any unanswered questions and discuss whether further investigation or a contractual condition is needed.

This depends on your circumstances. You may need a financing condition or a condition relating to a building inspection. Record the wording, deadlines and required evidence carefully. A condition only helps if it has been agreed and invoked correctly.

A private individual buying a home generally has a statutory three-day cooling-off period. It starts after receipt of the purchase agreement signed by both parties; rules for weekends and public holidays can affect the end date. Have the exact deadline confirmed and do not leave matters until the last moment.

Start with your moving plans and preferred timing. Then gather the property documents, discuss how to present your home and list any known defects or points needing attention. This helps you give buyers clear information from the outset.

These commonly include the ownership deed, division documents, recent owners’ association information, energy label and measurement report. Add the property questionnaire, inventory list and relevant maintenance, permit and leasehold documents. The documents needed vary from one property to another.

We assess the home and comparable sales, and discuss the impact of its location, condition, layout and legal particulars. The asking price forms part of the sales strategy. It is not a guarantee of the final selling price.

Not necessarily. Distinguish between essential repairs, a well-presented home and expensive changes based on personal taste. Discuss the cost, time and likely appeal to buyers of each option. Renovation costs are not automatically recovered in the sale.

Provide relevant information you know about, such as leaks, repairs or recurring problems. Keep reports and invoices, and be clear about what you do not know. If in doubt, seek advice on how to record a defect or uncertainty correctly; a neat finish alone says nothing about its underlying cause.

Yes. When you buy an apartment right, you become a member of the owners’ association, known as the Vereniging van Eigenaars (VvE). The VvE manages the shared parts of the building. The division documents define which parts are shared and which rules apply.

Request the deed and plan of division, recent meeting minutes, annual accounts, budget, monthly contribution and maintenance plan. Also review decisions about major works and their funding. Record missing documents separately and make clear which information has not yet been confirmed.

No. Check what the contribution covers and whether the reserves match the maintenance needs. A low monthly payment may come with an additional contribution later. Compare the budget, reserve fund and planned works rather than looking only at the monthly amount.

An MJOP is a long-term maintenance plan. It describes the expected maintenance, when it will be needed and its estimated cost. Check whether the plan still reflects the building’s condition and current prices. A plan on paper does not, by itself, prove that enough money is available.

Ask who makes decisions, how costs are shared and which maintenance arrangements are recorded. Review insurance, payment arrears and the reserve fund. Good relations between neighbours do not replace clear records and agreements. Identify uncertainties before you buy.

Leasehold, or erfpacht, gives you the right to use land owned by someone else, such as the municipality. Conditions apply to its use and payment. Check the deed and terms: the current ground rent alone does not tell you what you will pay in the longer term.

No. The property remains subject to leasehold. Prepayment means that the ground rent has been paid for a specified period or in perpetuity. Always check exactly which period is covered and which other conditions still apply.

This refers to a limited period. Investigate what happens afterwards: has a change to the leasehold terms already been recorded, will ground rent become payable, or has the future period also been prepaid? Request the underlying deeds and agreements, rather than relying on the listing text.

No. Perpetual describes the leasehold system; ground rent can be paid periodically or prepaid. Ask which payment arrangement has actually been recorded and whether the current leasehold period needs to be considered separately.

Yes, that is sensible. Have the current and future arrangements set out together, including dates and amounts where known. Involve your mortgage adviser and, where necessary, a civil-law notary to clarify uncertainties. This helps you avoid basing an offer solely on today’s costs.

Request the measurement report and compare it with the floor plan. Living area, other indoor space, outdoor space and external storage are recorded separately. Have any differences between documents explained before relying on the figures for your offer.

No. Under the industry-wide measurement guidelines, it is classed as outdoor space attached to the building. It may add to the enjoyment of the home, but it is reported separately from the usable living area.

The label describes the home’s calculated energy performance. It does not predict your exact bill: how you use the home, appliances and energy prices also matter. Review the full label and request any available consumption information separately.

Ask for available surveys, repair records and VvE decisions. Cracks or sloping floors may justify further investigation, but are not a diagnosis on their own. Have a qualified expert assess which information and inspections are needed for this building.

Do not assume so. Carry out a permit check for the specific address and design. Also check ownership, the division rules, any required VvE approval and leasehold conditions. A municipal permit does not replace consent required under private law.

The inventory list, or lijst van zaken, records which items stay, which the seller takes and which may be available for separate purchase. Clarify ambiguous descriptions and keep the final agreements. An item appearing in a listing photo is not automatically included.

Compare the handover with the agreements: the property’s condition, repairs and items to be left behind. Record meter readings and check keys and manuals. Discuss any discrepancies before the appointment with the civil-law notary.

Take photos and describe how the property differs from the agreed handover condition. Discuss it immediately with your agent and the civil-law notary. Record a specific solution; do not withhold part of the purchase price on your own initiative.

The civil-law notary prepares the legal transfer, checks relevant information and arranges the deed and its registration. Read the draft deed and completion statement in advance. Report incorrect details or unclear agreements well before completion.

Not always. Check the purchase protection rules, municipal regulations, mortgage conditions, division rules and leasehold terms. Homes covered by purchase protection are subject to letting restrictions during the first four years after purchase; exceptions may require a permit or exemption. Have the current position assessed for the specific address.