Between history and technology
Delft has a compact old centre, a large student population and a steady influx from the technical university and the companies around it.
What you need to know here
In Delft, centuries-old canal houses and post-war neighbourhoods are only a few minutes' cycle apart. The questions to ask when buying or selling therefore differ a lot from one area to the next.
Below are the four points that most often make the difference in Delft. We cover them in every purchase or sale, so you are not surprised afterwards.
Old centre versus outer districts
Canal houses need maintenance; the post-war districts need insulation and upgrades.
Student lets
Properties that have been rented to students usually have a different maintenance history.
Energy performance
Energy labels weigh heavily in this segment, including in the mortgage rate you are offered.
Location
Sitting between Rotterdam and The Hague makes Delft attractive for commuters.
Buying and selling in Delft
Whether you are buying or selling, you get someone who knows the street, not just the postcode.
Buying support
Searching, viewing, going through the paperwork and negotiating hard.
Selling support
Valuation, photography, listing on Funda and the negotiation.
Valuation
Validated to NWWI standards, for a mortgage or inheritance tax.
Styling
A well styled home sells faster and often for more.
A compact city with very different housing markets
Delft is small but the differences within the city are large. The old centre with its canal houses and listed buildings draws a different audience than Tanthof or Voorhof, and Delfgauw and Ruiven feel like villages of their own. If you are buying or selling in Delft, an average price per square metre for the whole municipality tells you very little.
The technical university and the companies around it bring a constant flow of knowledge workers, PhD candidates and international staff. That puts pressure on the mid-range supply and makes flats near the station quick to sell.
At the same time there are properties that were let to students for years. Those have a different maintenance history than a home lived in by one family, and that does not always show during a twenty minute viewing.
See our full service areaWhat we look at in Delft
With a listed building in the old centre we look at permit requirements, the state of the window frames and roof, and what you are and are not allowed to do about energy performance. A historic property with a poor energy label is not necessarily a problem, but you want to know in advance what can still be improved.
In the post-war districts the emphasis is on energy: insulation, glazing, the boiler and the label itself. That label now also affects what a lender is willing to lend you and at what rate.
If you are selling in Delft, we decide the timing together. Supply moves differently around the academic year than in the rest of the year, and you notice that in the number of people who turn up to view.
The rules around letting have been tightened considerably in recent years, in Delft too. Ask us about the current situation before you bid on a property with letting in mind.
That varies widely and depends on the condition, the listed status and what has been built on at the back. We will come by for a properly reasoned valuation.
Yes. Our service area runs on into the surrounding villages.
Selling or buying in Delft?
Book a consultation without obligation. We will tell you honestly where you stand.