Selling a commercial property without an agent: step-by-step plan, costs and risks

Are you allowed to sell a commercial property without a real estate agent?

Yes. In the Netherlands, there is no obligation to use an estate agent. Only the delivery must be done via a notarial deed that is registered in the public registers. Everything before that – valuation, marketing, negotiation, and the purchase agreement – you may do yourself.

Unlike residential properties, there is no legal requirement for a written contract for the purchase agreement between professional parties in commercial real estate: a verbal agreement can already be binding. This is exactly why it pays to record agreements in writing and precisely, even without an estate agent.

What exactly do you save?

When selling via a commercial estate agent, you usually pay 1% to 2% commission on the purchase price plus 21% VAT, often supplemented with start-up and marketing costs. Without an agent, that item is eliminated; you retain the costs for the notary, measurement report and energy label.

Important: a saving on commission is only a profit if you do not lose more than 그 amount in the sale price. Therefore, always calculate both routes net – i.e. after commission, after VAT and including the months of extra lead time that a real estate agent process often costs.

Step-by-step plan: selling your commercial property yourself

1. Determine a substantiated asking price: rental flow divided by the requested yield, plus a check on recent transactions per m² in your region.
2. Gather the file: title deed, cadastral data, lease agreements and rent roll, NEN 2580 measurement report, energy label, soil and asbestos information, and the zoning plan.
3. Create high-quality sales information: floor plans, photos, rent matrix and a clear description of zoning and usage possibilities.
4. Approach buyers directly: the sitting tenant, neighbouring companies, regional investors and regular buyers – with commercial real estate, a targeted approach works better than broad advertising.
5. Do not only negotiate on price, but also on reservations, delivery level and transfer date.
6. Have the purchase agreement drawn up or checked by a notary or real estate lawyer and plan the delivery.

Which risks do you bear yourself?

• Valuation risk: asking too much costs months, asking too little costs money directly.
• Duty of disclosure: if you conceal soil contamination, asbestos or an enforcement process, you remain liable.
• Contract risk: unclear agreements about rent, security deposit or service charges lead to discussion after delivery.
• Tax risk: VAT adjustment, transfer tax and cessation profit require advice from your accountant.
• Negotiation risk: without reference transactions, you negotiate with less information than the professional buyer opposite you.

These risks are manageable. Enlist a notary or real estate lawyer for the contractual side and your accountant for the tax side — costs that are typically a fraction of the commission.

Without an estate agent, but also without the hassle

If you sell directly to a fixed buyer, the commission is waived and most of the work disappears: no advertising, no viewings past your tenants, and no financing contingencies.

You provide the address and core data, we perform the valuation and issue a non-binding offer within 24 hours. If you agree, we handle the process up to and including the notary. If you decline, it costs you nothing – you then have a substantiated price anchor for a potential agent process.