Home documentation: 3 key points that determine a successful sale

When selling property today, a nicely furnished home and good photos are no longer enough. Increasingly informed buyers and ever stricter banks have put the spotlight on something that used to be secondary: home documentation. Incomplete documentation is one of the main reasons why deals drag on or fall through at the last minute.

If you are planning to sell your home, here are three key points regarding documentation that you must pay attention to, so the deal does not fail at the last minute.

1. Documentation and the building register after renovation

The Building Register (EHR) must reflect reality. This is especially critical for older houses and apartments where renovation work has been done. If you have changed the layout, glazed a balcony or built a terrace, all the work must be reflected in the documentation.

Why does it matter? If the EHR has no record of the renovation, the bank may refuse to grant the buyer a loan until the data is corrected. That process can take months.

2. Technical system documentation: are all systems registered?

All the “vital” systems of a home must be officially documented and maintained.

• Heating appliances – Stoves and fireplaces must have a valid chimney sweep certificate 
• Gas appliances – Gas boilers require a valid audit report.
• Electricity – An electrical installation audit is often the first document the buyer’s bank asks for.

Systematic documentation ensures that your home is technically inspected and safe.

3. Documentation and the EHR: does the data match reality?

It is often only when ordering a valuation report that it turns out the house’s net floor area on paper differs from reality. Are all extensions registered? Do the square metres match? Does the room layout match the plan?

Even a small discrepancy can lead the valuer to note incomplete documentation, which in turn reduces the market value of the property or makes borrowing impossible.

Documentation and the occupancy permit: why it matters 

If you are selling a newer house or a thoroughly renovated apartment, the occupancy permit (or notice of use) is the be-all and end-all of the sales process. Many buyers today will not even look at a property without an occupancy permit, because incomplete documentation means potential extra costs and dealings with the local authority. 

When selling property, it is worth reviewing the documentation before the listing is published. In practice, it quite often happens that only during the valuation or the bank process does it turn out that an important document is missing or the EHR data needs correcting. I encounter such issues when preparing properties for sale too. If you are thinking about selling your home but are not sure whether all the documentation is in order, you can come for a free real estate consultation and we will review the necessary data together.

SUMMARY

Getting the documentation in order may seem like daunting bureaucracy, but it is the best investment you can make before selling. Documents in order give the buyer confidence and ensure the deal does not get stuck at the bank. Proper documentation means a faster deal.

Want to check whether your home’s documentation is ready for sale? Get in touch – we will review the EHR data together and I will do a thorough analysis of your property so the sale goes without a hitch.