Bidding on a house

In the Netherlands, there are generally two common methods of making offers when purchasing a house:

Opening offer: This is the traditional bidding process in which potential buyers openly compete against each other. The seller or the real estate agent sets an asking price for the house, but this asking price is typically an invitation to negotiate. Buyers can increase their bids until they reach an agreement on a sale price with the seller. Bids are usually conveyed orally or in writing through the real estate agent, and multiple rounds of bidding may occur before an agreement is reached.

Offer by tender: In this approach, interested buyers must submit their bids in writing before a predetermined deadline. After the deadline expires, all bids are reviewed and assessed. Offer by tender is often employed when there is significant interest in a property, and the seller aims to create maximum competition among buyers.

Opening offer

An opening offer when purchasing a house is the first proposal made by you, the buyer, to the seller of the property. This offer signifies the amount of money you are willing to pay for the house and is a crucial aspect of the negotiation process in real estate.

When seeking to buy a house, you typically commence by making an initial offer based on various factors, including the seller's asking price, market conditions, the condition of the property, and your own financial capabilities. The initial offer can be lower than the asking price, equal to the asking price, or even higher than the asking price, depending on your strategy and the negotiation room you perceive.

After submitting an initial offer, a period of negotiations may ensue between you and the seller, during which you both strive to reach an agreement on the final sale price. It is important to have a clear understanding of your financial situation and possibly establish a maximum price in mind before commencing with the bidding process to ensure you stay within your budget.

Offer by tender

"Offer by Tender" is another method of purchasing a house that differs from the traditional bidding process where buyers openly compete against each other. In "Offer by Tender," a fixed deadline is established by which interested buyers must submit their bids, usually in a sealed envelope or electronically. All bids are only opened and reviewed by the seller or the selling agent after the deadline has passed.

Offer by Tender is often employed when there is significant interest in a particular property or when the seller is seeking maximum competition among potential buyers to drive up the price. It can be an exciting yet challenging way to buy a house because you must strive to submit your best offer without knowing what others are bidding. It's essential to remember that you have only one opportunity to make a bid, so carefully consider what you are willing to pay before participating in an Offer by Tender process.

Walter advisor

Buying a home?

Book your free orientation call with a Walter advisor. We will take you through the process of buying your next home.

Book a call — it's free

Continue reading

A deed of ownership is an important document when buying a house. It establishes the rightful owner of the property and the exact contents of the sold property. Continue reading →

A building inspection is a detailed property inspection by a construction expert. The buyer commonly hires a building expert and, in some cases, the buying agent. Our Walter Buying Service takes care of this for you. Continue reading →

The key transfer takes place on the transfer date. This is the date buyers, and sellers include in the preliminary purchase agreement when the property is transferred from sellers to buyers. Continue reading →