Buying agent for a commercial property: when does it really pay off?

What a buying agent does

A buying agent works for you, not for the seller. They search for properties (also outside of advertisement sites), assess the value, conduct negotiations and safeguard the conditions in the purchase agreement: financing proviso, delivery level, warranties and the date of transfer.

The four risks that cost the most money

  • Zoning. Is your intended use permitted here? The environment plan is leading, not what the seller says.
  • Soil and asbestos. For older commercial properties, a preliminary soil investigation and asbestos inventory is not an unnecessary luxury.
  • Rental agreements. With let real estate, you buy the contracts as well. Term, indexation and maintenance obligations determine your yield.
  • Installations and energy. Capacity of the electricity connection, state of climate installations and the energy label can together involve a substantial amount.

Costs versus return

Buying commission in commercial real estate is often agreed as a percentage of the purchase price or as a fixed amount; rates are free. The question is not whether it costs something, but whether it costs less than the mistake you prevent with it. For a standard property that you know well, you can manage fine yourself. For a property with tenants, a deviating zoning or a technical history, professional guidance is almost always cheaper than the alternatives.

Read more at commercial property buying agent.

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