The process in six steps
A sale begins with a conversation about your goals: timeframe, your next home, tax deadlines. This is followed by the on-site valuation, preparation of the documents, marketing with a property brochure (exposé) and targeted approaches to registered buyers, viewings with vetted prospects, negotiation and finally the notary appointment and handover.
At a realistic price, it usually takes two to four months to reach the notary appointment. Payment of the purchase price and handover normally follow six to ten weeks later.
The right price
The asking price determines the course of the entire sale. A price set too high means a property stays visible for a long time. Buyers then wonder what is wrong with it and negotiate harder. A price set too low gives money away.
A sound valuation is based on actual sales of comparable properties, not on asking prices from portals. In Dresden, there can be noticeable differences between two streets in the same neighbourhood. That is why we view every property in person.
Costs of selling
For sellers, the main costs are the agent's commission, possibly an early repayment charge if a loan is redeemed early, costs for missing documents such as an energy performance certificate and, in some cases, taxes. Notary fees and real estate transfer tax are usually paid by the buyer.
For flats and detached houses, the agent's commission is shared by law between buyer and seller if the buyer is a consumer. We work on a success basis: commission is only payable once the purchase contract is signed.
Tax: the ten-year rule
Gains from selling private property are tax-free if more than ten years lie between purchase and sale, or if you lived in the property yourself in the year of sale and the two preceding years. With inherited property, the deceased's holding period continues. Have the tax implications checked by your tax adviser before selling.
Special situations
Let flats appeal mainly to investors, and the tenancy agreement passes to the buyer. In a divorce, an inheritance or a move in later life, discretion and good coordination among everyone involved matter as much as the price. On request, we sell without a public advertisement and approach only selected prospects.
Notary appointment and handover
The notary drafts the purchase contract, and consumers usually receive the draft two weeks before the appointment. After notarisation, a priority notice of conveyance is entered in the land register, your bank issues a consent to cancellation if required, and the purchase price becomes due. Once payment is received, we hand over the keys and property together and record everything in a handover protocol.
This guide provides a general overview and does not replace legal, tax or financing advice.
