Selling to the highest standards

The period from spring to autumn is generally the most favourable time to sell a property.

Longer days, more natural light and better weather help to showcase properties, particularly those with a garden, terrace or attractive outdoor spaces. Buyers are also generally more active during this period, with more viewings taking place.

However, this does not mean that you necessarily need to wait until spring to sell. A well-presented property that is priced and marketed correctly can find a buyer throughout the year. Winter may even offer certain advantages, including fewer competing properties on the market.

Ultimately, the type of property, its location, its price and the quality of its presentation often have a greater influence than the season itself.

At J&J Properties, we therefore work with you to determine the best time to launch the marketing campaign, based on your property, the market and your personal circumstances.

In Belgium, our profession is regulated by the IPI (Professional Institute of Estate Agents). The standard set by the IPI is 3% plus VAT of the final sale price.
Nevertheless, each agency remains free to set its own rates according to the quality of the services provided. At J&J, our fees vary depending on several factors, such as the price of the property, the type of contract selected, etc.  For complete transparency, we have developed a simple tool on our website that allows you to calculate the fees applicable to your situation in just two clicks. You can find the calculator here.

In accordance with standard practice in Belgium, these fees are usually payable by the seller.
 

Our fees cover our full range of services, from preparing the sale through to signing the final deed.

This includes the property valuation and definition of the marketing strategy, preparation and management of the administrative file, preparation of the listing, professional photography, a virtual tour and, where appropriate, video and virtual home staging.

We then handle marketing the property across the various channels, managing enquiries, arranging and conducting viewings, and following up with prospective buyers.

When an offer is made, we assist you with assessing it, verifying the prospective buyer’s financial standing, negotiating and managing the transaction through to the preliminary sale agreement and then the final deed, in coordination with the notaries and the various parties.

Our fees therefore cover far more than publishing a listing: they include all the commercial, administrative and personal work required to showcase your property, safeguard the transaction and protect your interests as effectively as possible throughout the sale.

Most importantly, we are paid based on results: our sales fees are only payable if the sale is successfully completed. Our interests are therefore directly aligned with yours.

To find out the exact amount of our fees for your property, you can use the calculator available on the ‘Sell’ page. In just a few clicks, you will receive a clear estimate of the cost of our services.

Your property is advertised on Belgium's leading property portals, including Immoweb, Zimmo and Immovlan, as well as on the J&J Properties website and our various social media channels.

This multi-channel approach gives your property substantial visibility among prospective buyers, but our work is not simply about advertising on as many platforms as possible.

Every listing is carefully prepared to maximise its impact: professional photographs, a virtual tour, a video where appropriate, floor plans and a detailed presentation of the property. We also refine the titles, descriptions and keywords used to optimise the visibility and search ranking of online listings.

We also draw on our own network. Through our database of prospective buyers and investors, we can directly contact people whose search criteria match your property.

Depending on the type of property and target audience, we can also enhance the marketing through our social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, as well as targeted digital campaigns.

The aim is therefore not simply to be present everywhere, but to give your property the best possible exposure among the right prospective buyers.

Yes. The way a property is presented can have a significant impact on the interest it generates among buyers.

Before putting the property on the market, we advise you on improvements that can genuinely enhance its appeal: decluttering, staging, furniture arrangement, garden maintenance, fresh paint, minor repairs or rectifying certain visible defects.

Where appropriate, we can also arrange light home staging before the photographs are taken, thanks to our network of specialist partners.

We can also use virtual home staging. Photo editing and artificial intelligence tools can, for example, be used to declutter a room virtually, remove certain items of furniture or personal belongings, replace existing furniture or virtually furnish an empty property. This allows prospective buyers to better imagine themselves in the property and reveals the potential of a space without necessarily carrying out work or moving all the furniture.

We then pay particular attention to the property's marketing presentation. A well-presented, carefully staged and professionally photographed interior creates a stronger first impression and attracts more prospective buyers.

The aim is not to have you undertake costly work before selling, but to identify the physical or virtual improvements that can genuinely enhance the property's value and make it easier to market.

A property sale generally takes place in three main stages. At J&J Properties, we support you and coordinate the entire process, from the valuation through to the signing of the authentic deed.

1. Preparing the sale

Before marketing begins, we value your property, define the sales strategy with you and compile the necessary documentation: agency agreement, EPC certificate, planning information, electrical inspection report and any other documents required depending on the property.

At the same time, we prepare to showcase it effectively: professional photographs, a virtual tour, a video where appropriate, and preparation of the property listing.

2. Marketing and the offer

Once the property is ready, we begin marketing it, arrange viewings and follow up with prospective buyers.

When a serious offer is made, we review it with you and also assess the prospective buyer’s financial standing, particularly their ability to secure financing. We then support you throughout the negotiations until an offer is potentially accepted.

The sale agreement is then prepared and signed, generally with the involvement of the notaries. If the purchase is subject to a financing condition precedent, it is then necessary to wait for this condition to be met within the stipulated period.

3. The sale agreement and authentic deed

After the sale agreement has been signed, the notary carries out the various checks and legal formalities required for the sale: mortgage status, planning matters, taxation and other searches relating to the property.

Once the file is complete, a date is set for the signing of the authentic deed. The balance of the purchase price is then paid and ownership of the property is officially transferred to the buyer.

It generally takes several months between the acceptance of an offer and the authentic deed, depending on the circumstances of the transaction.

Throughout the process, J&J Properties remains your main point of contact and liaises between you, the buyer and the notaries to help ensure the transaction proceeds smoothly.

For further information, we also provide a detailed explanation of every stage of a property sale in a dedicated article on our blog.

The notary is a public official who plays an essential role in ensuring the legal security of a property sale.

In particular, the notary verifies the title deed, the property’s mortgage status, any easements, and the various legal, planning and tax matters required for the transaction. The notary prepares or reviews the preliminary sale agreement and subsequently drafts the authentic deed of sale.

When the deed is signed, the notary also manages the financial aspect of the transaction: receiving the necessary funds, ensuring payment of the purchase price to the seller, repaying any mortgage debts, and collecting the duties and costs associated with the purchase.

The notary then completes the formalities required to make the sale enforceable against third parties, particularly by registering the deed with the relevant authority. The notary’s involvement therefore guarantees the legal security of the transaction and the transfer of ownership.

The seller and buyer may each appoint their own notary. Having two notaries does not normally increase the notarial fees for the transaction: the notaries divide these fees between themselves.

At J&J Properties, we remain in contact with the notary or notaries throughout the process to provide the necessary information and facilitate the management of the file until the authentic deed is signed.

When selling a property, it is important to compile a complete administrative and technical file. This ensures compliance with legal obligations, reassures prospective buyers and prevents a missing document from delaying the sale.

Depending on the type of property, its location and the Region in which it is situated, the main documents required include:

• the title deed;
• the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate);
• the electrical installation inspection report;
• the planning and cadastral information;
• soil-related information or certificates, where required;
• documents relating to any oil tank;
• permits, plans and documents relating to any works or alterations carried out at the property;
• the asbestos certificate or inventory, where required;
• any other specific certificates or attestations that may be required depending on the property and its location.

If you are selling a flat or a jointly owned property, an additional file must also be obtained from the managing agent. This includes the basic deed and the co-ownership regulations, the minutes of the latest general meetings, service charge statements, the co-ownership accounts, the status of the reserve fund and working capital fund, as well as information relating to any works that have been approved or are under consideration and any debts owed by the co-ownership.

If the property is currently let, you will also need to gather the tenancy agreement, the inventory of fixtures, information relating to the rental deposit and any other relevant documents concerning the current tenancy.

The exact list may therefore vary considerably from one property to another.

When you entrust the sale of your property to J&J Properties, we identify the necessary documents from the outset and assist you in gathering them. We can also handle some of the formalities with the relevant authorities, the managing agent and the various parties involved on your behalf.

Preparing a complete file in advance helps reassure buyers, anticipate any potential difficulties and ensure that the sale proceeds smoothly.