Towering selling prices, housing shortage and much competition from other home seekers: finding an owner-occupied house in Utrecht is not an easy task. Is this still the case during the corona crisis? And how does it work if you want to view a house during these times? Broker Rutger Kanters answers five frequently asked questions about the housing market in times of corona.
What is the influence of the corona crisis on the housing supply in Utrecht?
Rutger: ‘You see a rise in the supply. People who have bought a house that they will not get until later this year or even next year, are already putting their own house on the market. People want the certainty that their house has been sold. There seems to be fewer viewings, but there still are several viewers per house.’
Have the asking prices fallen in Utrecht due to this crisis?
Rutger: ‘You see that there still are many home seekers, more than the housing supply. As a result, many houses are still sold for more than the asking price. That is also good to know for house owners considering selling their house. In these times, too, you can still sell your house for a good price.’
I want to view a house: how does this work in corona times?
Rutger: ‘During a viewing we follow the rules of the RIVM. Upon entering people must wash their hands, there are gloves available and inside the house a distance of 1.5 meters must be observed. Also, a maximum of three persons at a time are allowed in the house. We do not accompany the people; viewers can view the house themselves. Afterwards, we can give them all ins and outs about the house – observing a safe distance.’
I’d rather not view any houses. Is it wise to buy a house without actually having seen it?
Rutger: ‘We think this is not wise. Of course you can view photos, drawings and videos of the house, but ultimately nothing can beat the feeling you get from actually walking around the house.’
What influence does the corona virus have on face-to-face contact with the broker?
Rutger: ‘However highly we of Waltmann Expat Broker Utrecht normally value personal contact, we don’t think it would be wise now. For this reason we now abundantly use video calling services such as FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom and Teams. This way, we can still see each other, which works best for many clients. Safety and health are top priorities at the moment.’
Did you not find an answer to our questions or do you need help?
Do you want to buy or sell a house in Utrecht and need some help from an expert? The brokers of Waltmann Expat Broker Utrecht are at your service! Contact us via 0031302313035 or mail to info@waltmann.nl.