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Engel & Völkers
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Brokerage contract for the sale of a house - Everything about the exclusive commission, content, right of cancellation

There are a number of good reasons why you should commission a real estate agent and conclude a real estate agent's contract in the process. The brokerage fee, the scope of services and other modalities are regulated in such a document. What exactly the brokerage contract contains, what types of brokerage contracts there are and whether you can revoke it are explained below.

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A house with pool

Many people dream of having a house with a pool. But what kind of pool is most suitable? An outdoor pool in your own garden for the summer is appealing because of the low acquisition costs. An indoor pool that can be used all year round, perhaps even extending into an outdoor pool, costs a lot more, as does a heated and covered outdoor pool. Is this investment worthwhile? How much does it cost to set up and maintain your own wellness area? Does every pool increase the value of the property?

  • 8 min read
  • 18.08.2022
Visit A house with pool
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What is the local comparable rent based on?

The local comparative rent is formed from the usual rents of the municipality (or a comparable municipality). The living space must be comparable in terms of type, size, equipment, quality and location. The period under consideration for the local comparable rent is four years. Increases due to increases in operating costs are not taken into account.

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Why commission is worthwhile when selling with Engel & Völkers

The commission when selling with Engel & Völkers represents the compensation for the services rendered by our real estate agents. Property sellers often have questions about this, for example when it comes to the exact scope of the services. Also the question of Amount of the brokerage fee and how exactly it is made up are also frequent topics for property sellers. In this guide, we would therefore like to briefly and concisely answer the most important questions about commission when selling with Engel & Völkers and show why working with an estate agent is worthwhile.

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Taxes when selling a house - how to sell tax-free

If you want to save taxes when selling a house, there are a few things to consider. However, if you make the effort, you can save a lot of money in the end In the following, we therefore explain which taxes may be incurred when you sell your property, when you sell your house tax-free and what the situation is with taxes on rented properties.

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What are the heating systems of the future?

Whether it's a new building or the modernisation of an old building: Anyone planning an upgrade of their heating system should take a closer look at the heating systems of the future. Because while fossil fuel heating systems are usually cheap to buy, they will cost a lot of money to operate over the next few years. Natural gas and heating oil are dependent on the world market and at the same time are only available in limited quantities. This is why heating systems based on heating oil or natural gas are not future-proof. Fossil fuels are also subject to carbon tax, which makes them even more expensive. Modern heating systems using renewable energy sources such as solar or heat pumps protect the environment. Energy from the sun, the air, the earth or the water is available for free. This greatly reduces energy costs in the future. Energy-efficient heating systems make property owners more independent of energy suppliers and politics. Heating systems such as heat pumps, solar thermal energy or heating with biomass contribute to the transition of the heating sector as a significant part of the energy transition. But which heating system of the future is the right one for old or new buildings?

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Residential to ommercial and vice versa: What do you have to consider when changing the use of a property?

A change of use from commercial to residential or vice versa can make sense in many cases. After all, the real estate market is in a constant state of flux. Demand and usage patterns change, especially in economically turbulent times. This demands flexibility from the owners of a property. In this way, it is possible to react to the current trends in real estate use and to increase the Value creation potential of the property can be fully exploited.

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Building on someone else's land: 7 frequently asked questions about hereditary building rights

Are you planning to build a property? Then building on someone else's land is an option available to you as a builder. Ownership, finances and rights of use are regulated by the so-called heritable building right. In this article, we answer 7 questions on the subject that you may frequently encounter.

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How to calculate the property tax in Germany

Every property owner knows it and has to pay it: the property tax. Therefore, even before you buy a property or a plot of land, you should find out how high the tax costs will be in the future. In the following, we show you how to calculate property tax, when you are exempt from paying, and which Payment deadlines exist.

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The operating cost bill - what to look out for?

As a rule, every tenant receives an operating cost bill once a year. According to the German Tenants' Protection Association, this always leads to a large number of enquiries and requests for advice. Since this is a complex issue based on many different laws and contractual agreements, incorrect or unfounded billing can occur time and again.

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Engel & Völkers Germany

Vancouverstraße 2a

20457 Hamburg, Germany

Tel: +49 40 361310