Choosing a commercial estate agent: checklist with 10 questions for the introductory meeting
Ten questions that make the difference
- Which three comparable properties have you sold in this region in the past year?
- Who, in your opinion, are the three most likely buyers of my property?
- How do you substantiate the asking price – on rental stream, on square metres, or on reference transactions?
- Which marketing tools do you use and what do they cost individually?
- How do you handle a discrete sale without publication?
- What is your commission, is there a minimum fee and what are the withdrawal costs?
- What is the duration of the assignment and how can I terminate it?
- Who is my fixed contact person and who carries out the viewings?
- How often do you report on interest and viewings?
- Which trade association are you affiliated with and which dispute resolution scheme applies?
What to check the answers against
Look for specificity. An office that can name three references with address, property type and lead time knows the market. An office that only speaks in generalities is learning your segment at your expense.
In addition, look for affiliation with a trade association and for registration in the Kadaster-related register of sworn appraisers if a valuation is also required. For valuations, registration in the NRVT register counts as a quality standard.
Compare at least two quotes
Always request two or three proposals and compare them based on total costs including VAT, duration and conditions – not just on the percentage. We help you with this on comparing commercial estate agents and commercial estate agents.