FULL SERVICE BROKERAGE
Personal Assistance
Dear new-comer to The Hague,
When you move to a new country or even a new city it is so very hard to find your way around. First you need a hotel, and then you need a real estate agent. Where to go? Who to turn to when you don’t know anyone in your “new hometown”? This might be very difficult for you to decide, because you do not know anybody or your new colleagues have recommended some agent, who you cannot find for some reason or the chemistry is not right. Our service is extensive and here are some very good reasons to consider doing business with us.
Finding the perfect home in an unfamiliar environment is a challenge, and one that Oosterhof Residential Housing has made it their business to solve, fast, effectively and economically. The philosophy of the company is based on doing it all in the shortest possible time, at the lowest possible cost and minimal personal stress.
So Oosterhof Residential Housing provides a home finding/buying/selling service tailored to the international community that is fast, effective and economic. It also provides broader ‘general assistance’ with relocation.
So WHY do you need us?
You will not get lost in a strange city.
You will be chauffeured and accompanied by us.
You will not have to deal with the frustrations of a foreign language.
You will ultimately pay rent according to the going market value.
You will be informed on new properties regularly.
You will be guided and advised by professionals.
You will not miss out on that particular place most suitable for you.
You don’t have to stay in a hotel unnecessarily.
You never pay too much rent as we are experts in negotiating.
We are a prominent real estate agent based in the centre of The Hague, at Koninginnegracht 34. Our telephone number is +31 (0) 70 302 25 25 at the office. We have a wide range of clients and please have a look at what others have to say about us.
We are specialised in providing residential housing properties to expatriates and repatriates, who are looking to base themselves in The Hague and surroundings, which basically means also Voorburg, Rijswijk, Leidschendam and Wassenaar. We can offer you a wide variety of apartments, studio’s, villas and houses – either semi or fully furnished. We also buy and sell properties at very interesting rates.
The full service brokerage we provide is specifically tailored to suit your individual needs and wants. Which means that we shall help you professionally from start to finish.
Oosterhof Residential Housing step-by-step art of mediation includes:
Understanding what you are looking for.
Go house hunting with you.
Finding the most suitable property within the location best suited to your wants and needs.
Arranging the contract.
Doing the check-in and inspection when taking possession of the property.
Ensuring all connections for water, gas, electricity and tv cable are dealt with.
Accompanying you and assisting you with the inspection of the property at the check-out (prior to leaving).
Answer all your pending questions.
More Service for you ….
Oosterhof Residential Housing mediates for expatriates who want to rent a semi or fully furnished residence. Expatriates are employees who work temporarily in The Netherlands. We take care of an utmost accompaniment in which your interest is first importance. Of course we have to take care of it that all parties can look back to everybody's entire satisfaction. Repatriates are Dutch, who had worked abroad as expats and who are settling again in their own country.
Semi furnished means inclusive carpet or wooden floors, curtains, kitchen equipment, lamps, washing machine and - if possible - also a dryer.
Fully furnished means you only have to bring your clothes and other personal belongings only – everything else is already there.
When you decide to let your property, Oosterhof Residential Housing will be glad to advise you about the asking price, does and don’ts to get the most out of your property and about the further procedures. We advise you professionally how to create a better price and/or demand.
About two to three months before you want to let your premises is a good period to bring it on the market. We inform all our colleagues in the area that happens through our sophisticated multiple listing service. We also organise viewings through appointments and we will keep you posted on a regular basis.
HOW DOES IT WORK………..
All NVM agents (members of the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents) are working together through multiple listing service(which is basically a pool) and list their properties directly into the same computer system. We are a member of the NVM with more than 3.800 members. This is a very powerful networking tool to provide you with the best service possible. Our association stands for service, quality and above all honesty. Anyway, through this system we inform our colleagues in the area and they inform us about the current property offerings. Like that we are not only showing you our own offerings, but also the offerings of all our colleagues. That will save you a lot of time organising the viewings with various agents or home-owners.
If you choose any of the properties of our own listings you do NOT pay any commission, because Oosterhof Residential Housing represents the owner as the client. That will save your hard earned money. If you want us to show you properties of other agents we will make all necessary arrangements and pick you up from your hotel or present address. As we represent you as our client and we will give you ultimate service and negotiate with the agent of the owner to get you the best possible price and conditions for a rental agreement. When you choose a property not listed with us, then you do have to pay a commission to us.
WHAT HAPPENS if we have found the property of your choice?
Discuss your criteria carefully with us, so we can make an official offer to the owner or to the representing agent. Possibly a counteroffer is presented, which means you can either accept or negotiate further. If you reject the counteroffer completely, you are free to select another place of your choice. If you accept however, your offer is legally binding and the property is yours to rent. As soon as both parties are in full agreement, changes cannot be made anymore. Additional requests will not be honoured, so make sure you know what you want before the initial offer is made. Of course you will be advised and guided by us at all times throughout the negotiation.
The tenancy agreement will now be drawn up between you and the owner or between your company and the owner. This agreement is a confirmation of what has already been agreed upon. The contract has to be signed by both parties before you can take possession of the property. At the same time the first month’s rent and the deposit will have to be paid before you move in and receive the key.
HOW MUCH DOES OUR SERVICE COST?
Brokerage fees are one month rent (excluding 19% VAT) based on a contract regardless of the period. If you choose a property of our own listing you pay no commission. In that case we represent the owner as our client.
Checking in….
When you take possession of the house you will be checked in by the owner or his representative. You will be assisted by us. Under normal circumstances the owner will fill in a, check-list regarding the condition of the property, the furniture/fixtures and fittings belonging it, and the condition of the exterior and garden, if present.
Checking out….
When you leave The Netherlands a check-out will be made by the owner and/or his representative. As an extra service, we will accompany you with the inspection. It is important that you take care of it, that the house is handed back in the same condition in which you found it, normal wear and tear excluded, as this greatly facilitates the return of your deposit. Nails and hooks must be removed and the walls must be repaired accordingly. If you are not able to take care of these items yourself, you may agree with the owner to pay a certain amount to have all these items taken care of.
Checklist for house hunting
When you go house hunting, make a checklist with items that are important to you and your family. To help you already a little bit, we give you some examples:
location of the children's school;
the accessibility for reaching your work;
public transportation, school busses;
type of neighbourhood;
close to shopping centres or in a more quiet, residential area;
what kind of property? new and modern or an older house/apartment with character;
you have to choose for fully furnished (provided with all furniture) or semi furnished (provided with carpets, curtains, light fixtures, laundry- and kitchen appliances).
budget, last but not least we need to know how much you want to spend on housing.
On the basis of your specific requirements we will make a selection from the available market supply at that particular time.
Contract
The contract is only the finalisation of a deal. A deal is made when both parties agree upon price and terms. Most of the times this happens verbally, which IS binding. That is the Dutch law. After this verbal agreement you get the contract. What can you expect in the contract:
the rent is payable monthly in advance –at the 1st of each month;
one month deposit is customary, sometimes two months - a bank guarantee is negotiable;
once a year the rent is adjusted based on increases in the cost of living as determined by the CBS. This is mentioned in article 7 in the contract.
in article 5 is mentioned the minor repairs. Most of the times this is € 115,00;
usually the rent excludes user's costs, i.e. utilities, and various minor taxes like municipal levies for rubbish collection;
a clause stating that the lessee is responsible for the yearly cleaning of the central heating system, water boiler, chimneys, gutters and draining pipes;
the obligation to return the property in the same condition, normal wear and tear excepted, at the end of the rental period;
possibility to terminate the contract if you are transferred more than 75 km by giving two full calendar months notice by registered letter, so-called diplomatic clause. This is mentioned in article 13;
article 14 concerns the diplomatic clause of the owner. Usually this article is not applicable.
Length of time
Both, tenant and owner will agree upon the length of time the property can be rented. Standard is a minimum of one year. Of course it is possible to agree upon one or some extra option years. Basically this means that the tenant can decide if he will extend the period with the agreed term - this is negotiable.
Diplomatic clause
A diplomatic clause means that if, on account of his work, the tenant will be transferred to a place 75 km or more removed from the property or if he has to leave for reasons beyond his control, the tenant entitled is to terminate this agreement prematurely. This on the condition that he informs the owner by registered letter, whereby two full calendar months' notice shall be observed. It is standard that the tenant will get a diplomatic clause and the owner won’t.
Service
Residential Rentals® will take care of the contracts and that these will be signed by all parties. On the first day of the contract we take care of it that the rent and the deposit is paid. On this first day we make up an inspection report. It is called the in-check. The reason of the inspection report is to see if something is damaged at the end of the rental period. This condition or inspection report is very important at the end of the rental period, as we also checking-out at the end of the rental period.
After-sales service
As an extra service we offer you to accompany you with the out-check. This means that when the tenants leaves, we will inspect the premises together with you to see if any damage is caused and to check if the tenants left the premises in the same condition as when they moved in with exception of the normal wear and tear.
Inventory list
Among other things, tenants will be checked in and out with an inventory list. If you are not in the possibility to make such a list you can ask our office. If the tenants have caused some damage or if some inventory is missing this will be settled with the deposit if possible.
Deposit
At the beginning of the rental period the tenant pays a deposit, normally one month rent. The deposit will be returned to the tenant at the end of the rental period minus possible expenses. The owner has a maximum 2 months to return the deposit to the tenant, providing the property is in good shape. It is also possible that the tenant will pay a bank guarantee instead of a deposit.
Renting vs. Buying
Dutch people preferably buy houses because they can deduct the mortgage interest from their taxable income, but for an expatriate this situation might be entirely different. Besides that, the market situation is very important.
If we look at the current situation, the prices are incredible high and stable at the moment, but the interest is very low. This is less interesting for you, especially if you cannot deduct the interest. When you still decide to buy, the sales transaction will cost you approximately 10% totally on top of the purchase price. From this we can conclude that you have to make at least a 10% profit, when you do not want to loose money and play even. It has been estimated that real estate prices will rise 2 to 3% per year in de coming years. This means, that if you stay in Holland for at least three years, it can be profitable to buy. Then you have lived in your property for free. But it is always a risk you take, because we cannot look into the future. Beside the risk, your property needs maintenance, which means that you will spend money. This can be an important reason to rent instead of buying.
Anyway, if you whish to buy a house here in The Hague or surrounding, we would be very happy to advise you in this. In case you have bought a house and you are moving away to another area or country within a few years’ time, there is always the possibility that we can rent out your property out to other expatriates and take care of the financial and technical management for you.
Property Management
The most important task of your manager during your absent is to keep your residence in a good condition. This means to handle all the complaints of the tenant and try to solve them. Of course, we will keep you posted everything that is going on. This to avoid unpleasant surprises when you return to Holland.
Tasks
The manager collects the deposit and the monthly rent, calculates possible indexations, and pays for the expenses. After checking and approving, the manager takes care of paying the necessary repairs. If applicable we will contact the insurance company. We take care of the payments of the rent to you minus all the expenses
Some More Information
The Hague, a capital city of The Netherlands, is the seat of the Dutch Parliament, the Peace palace, the International Court of Justice, etc.. The country is located on the North Sea and bounded by Germany to the east and Belgium to the south.
The Hague has an area of about 26 square miles and a population of about one-half million people. The climate is temperate all year round. The average temperature is during the winter months from December to February is 38F. June, July and August are the warmest month with average temperatures in the 60’s F. Most expatriates live in row houses or semi-detached houses in the suburbs north, east and south of The Hague.
Rents are based on the type of housing size, condition of the property in particular the location The neighbourhood is really vital. The most popular suburb is Wassenaar, which is located 5 miles northeast of the city. It has an expensive residential area of older detached and semi-detached houses with nice size yards and gardens, on quiet tree-lined streets. Row houses are available in and around Wassenaar centre at about 20% - 25% lower cost than semi-detached houses or 30% - 35% lower cost than detached houses. The American School is located in Wassenaar. Therefore, there is much demand for the houses there. Also it is very easy to access the high way from Wassenaar to go to the direction Schiphol or Amsterdam.
Scheveningen is 3 miles northwest of The Hague along the coast of the North Sea. Scheveningen has many apartments and newly constructed apartment blocks along the beach with a sea view are most expensive ones. They offer views of the North Sea and usually have their own recreational facilities.
Voorburg is 2 miles southeast, and Voorschoten is 9 miles northeast of The Hague. Both suburbs have especially row houses and some apartments. Row houses are 15% - 20% lower cost then some comparable units in Wassenaar. Apartments are 15% - 20% lower cost than those in Scheveningen.
Expatriates who choose to live in the city of The Hague select neighbourhoods such as Benoordenhout, Bezuidenhout, Marlot, Statenkwartier, Duinoord, Archipelbuurt, Vogelwijk, Kijkduin, Scheveningen, Van Stolkpark, Westbroekpark/Duttendel, Belgisch Park and Mariahoeve. Also very trendy is to live in the area of Zeeheldenkwartier. They have a wide variety of row houses, double upper houses and apartments. Semi-detached and row houses rent for about 15% -20% lower cost than those in Wassenaar.
Call us for a no-frills, no-obligation chat. We are in the centre and talk most of Europe’s important languages. If we can’t answer your problem, then we will show you who can.
