How is a direct property purchase price calculated?
Quick answer: Compare price together with costs, conditions and timing. An initial offer is not equivalent to final purchase terms confirmed after inspection.
An asking price is not a completed sale price
A listing shows the seller’s expectations. An offer reflects the price and terms a particular buyer is prepared to accept. Comparable properties should be similar in location, size, condition and use. A city-wide average alone does not adequately explain the value of an individual apartment or house.
What costs does the buyer consider?
A direct buyer considers potential renovation, holding, financing and resale costs. Unclear paperwork or damage of an uncertain extent adds uncertainty. Accurate information makes the assumptions behind an offer clearer. Ask whether the figure is preliminary or confirmed and which remaining checks could affect it.
Compare the money you will retain
Compare the potential price, selling costs and expenses while waiting. Include only relevant items, such as an agent’s fee, preparation, bills for an empty property or moving arrangements. Do not deduct the same cost twice. Repaying a loan affects the money you retain, but it is not the same as a discount in the buyer’s offer.
When should you consider a conventional sale?
If there is no urgency and you can arrange preparation and viewings, a market sale may produce a better result. Assess a direct purchase by the clarity of its terms and timetable as well as the price. Request a written offer and compare it with real alternatives. No universal percentage replaces an assessment of your property and circumstances.
Compare offers on the same basis
Ask each buyer which findings could change the price after inspection. Compare not just the headline sum but notarial costs, clearance obligations, the move-out date and offer validity. A higher initial figure may not produce a better outcome if other terms remain open. Also establish whether the buyer first needs financing or another property sale. A confirmed offer and a conditional expression of interest should not be treated as equivalent.
Calculate two sale scenarios
Prepare separate budgets for a direct sale and an open-market sale. Label the assumptions in the latter: expected price, marketing time, possible repairs and monthly holding costs. Change one assumption at a time, such as the selling period, to see the effect on the result. This is a decision tool, not a price forecast. If time is flexible and you can organise viewings, a longer process may suit you. If moving dates are fixed, assess timetable reliability separately.
This guide helps you prepare. Confirm the terms and required documents for your particular transaction with the notary.