House handover – Prepare to hand over your house successfully after the house sale / apartment building sale! From the importance of a detailed handover protocol and important aspects such as defects and meter readings to handing over the keys and exchanging relevant documents – this teaser will guide you through all the important steps to consider when selling a house. Find out how to avoid potential disputes and ensure a smooth transition. How do you do a house handover?
Once the purchase contract has been signed and the notary appointment has been completed, the final step of the house sale follows: the handover. This is when you place your property in the hands of the new owner. To ensure that nothing goes wrong and there are no nasty surprises after the purchase contract has been signed, there are a few points to bear in mind.
Compensation for damages or a subsequent reduction in the purchase price make many buyers’ hair stand on end.
But that doesn’t have to be the case.
Role of the handover protocol
A handover protocol creates clarity and avoids disputes. This is because the purchase contract alone does not record all the key points. Defects, meter readings and existing inventory can be recorded again or in much more detail in a protocol. This is signed by the seller so that he cannot subsequently claim that he did not find the house as contractually agreed.
Creates clarity and avoids disputes.
Supplements the purchase contract by recording important details such as defects, meter readings and inventory.
Signed by the seller to document the agreements and avoid misunderstandings.
Important aspects in the handover protocol
The handover protocol when selling a house is not so dissimilar to the protocol when handing over a rental property. However, other important points must be recorded.
This includes defects that still need to be rectified by the seller. A date should also be set for this. The handover protocol should also record which fixtures and fittings still need to be removed. All meter readings should also be recorded. The process of handing over the keys is also noted in the protocol. If keys are still missing, it is noted how many and when they will be handed over. The keys are usually only handed over after the purchase price has been paid in full.
Similar to the protocol for rental property handovers.
Documents defects for rectification by the seller.
Setting a date for repairs.
List of the inventory to be removed.
Recording of meter readings.
Note on the handover of keys, normally only after full payment of the purchase price.
Handover protocol: Example
Here is an example of a handover protocol in table form:
Checkpoint
Description
Status
1. condition of the property
– General condition of the house (interior and exterior)
Good
– Identified defects (if any)
None
– Functionality of doors, windows and roller shutters
Patio door in need of repair, date agreed 15.02.2024
– Agreement on subsequent submission of missing keys
1 garden gate key, until 10.02.2024
– Agreement on further arrangements (if any)
–
Comparison! Handover of a rental property
When the house is handed over, not only are the keys handed over, but also many other important documents. Construction plans, floor plans, the calculation of the living space, building contracts, expert opinions, maintenance contracts, insurance certificates and much more are handed over to the new owner on this day. If you are selling a rental property, the rental contracts and documents relating to the various tenants must also be handed over. During the handover, the seller usually also explains to the buyer how the heating and other important appliances in the house work.
