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The notary appointment as the conclusion of your successful property sale in Hamburg

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If, following the marketing phase, a prospective buyer for your house or apartment in Hamburg has been found and you've agreed on suitable terms for your sale, the transaction must be finalized with a notarial certified purchase contract. Only after this step does the transfer of ownership become legally binding. When you choose to sell your property in Harburg or the surrounding districts with Engel & Völkers Hamburg, we will, of course, support you with our extensive experience even during the notary appointments. In this article, our real estate agents explain the typical steps involved, ensuring nothing stands in the way of successfully closing your property sale!

Table of Content

How is the sales contract for your property sale in Hamburg prepared?
The process of notarial certification – Engel & Völkers informs
Completion of the sales contract and final steps of your property sale

How is the sales contract for your property sale in Hamburg prepared?

Before the actual notarization appointment, you, as the seller, will have an initial meeting with the buyer, the notary, and your Engel & Völkers real estate agent. This meeting aims to outline the contents of the future sales contract and inform the involved parties about the legal options for structuring the contract. Additionally, all relevant data from the buyer and seller will be collected as a basis, and the land register entry to be presented will be checked for relevant information about the sale object.

Following this initial meeting, the notary will draft a first version of the sales contract and send it to both the buyer and the seller well in advance of the notarization. This provides sufficient opportunity to review the contract for accuracy and make changes if necessary. Throughout this process, you can always rely on the expertise of our real estate agent team in Hamburg Harburg.

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The process of notarial certification – Engel & Völkers informs

At the heart of closing the sale for your house or apartment in Hamburg Harburg is the notarization appointment. A second meeting with the future contract partners at the notary is scheduled – typically about 14 days after the initial appointment.

Once all participants have gathered, the notary reads the sales contract aloud, providing a final opportunity for any changes or additions. This is also a chance to ask any remaining questions about the legal situation and arising obligations, which our real estate agent or the notary will gladly answer. Once you, as the seller, and the buyer have signed the contract, it becomes legally binding with the notary's endorsement. Congratulations – you have successfully sold your property in Hamburg Harburg!

Completion of the sales contract and final steps of your property sale

Following the contract signing, the notary takes charge of the necessary correspondence with authorities and other public offices as well as ensuring the smooth progression of the transaction. For instance, they coordinate the removal of any existing usage or lien rights from the land register, where a so-called priority notice is also recorded, acting as a "placeholder" until the actual transfer to the new owner is completed. Furthermore, the notary reports the property sale to the tax office and obtains a certificate from the city of Hamburg confirming the waiver of a pre-emption right. Only once all the legal and formal processing steps have been completed does the notary request the buyer to pay the agreed purchase price. Once you, as the seller, have received the entire amount, unless otherwise agreed, the notary initiates the transfer of the property at the land registry office, which is officially confirmed with a registration notice. This finalizes your property sale in Hamburg Harburg.

The cost for the notary's work amounts to around 2 percent of the purchase price in Hamburg and is typically paid by the buyer. The selection of a notary is not regulated by law, but in practice, both parties usually amicably agree on a nearby law firm. Engel & Völkers Hamburg real estate agents are happy to recommend an experienced and reliable provider. If you wish to sell your house or apartment in Harburg or one of the other Hamburg districts south of the Elbe, don't hesitate to contact us! We look forward to welcoming you personally at our office soon!

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Engel & Völkers Germany

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20457 Hamburg, Germany

Tel: +49 40 361310