An online estimate does not automatically trigger a contact enquiry.
Selling property in Erkrath: the most important things on site
Erkrath lies between Düsseldorf and Wuppertal; Hochdahl is connected via the S-Bahn line S8. Many condominiums and terraced houses come from the expansion of the New City of Hochdahl - buyers here specifically ask about maintenance reserves, owners’ service charges (Hausgeld) and planned renovations.
advantage DisadvantageNeutral · without recommendation
Effort
With broker
Vorteil: The broker takes care of the exposé, inquiries and viewings.
Nachteil: You still coordinate appointments and decisions.
Sell privately
Vorteil: Full control over every step.
Nachteil: Many hours for inquiries, appointments and documents.
Range
With broker
Vorteil: Portals, list of noted buyers, local network.
Nachteil: The quality varies greatly from office to office.
Sell privately
Vorteil: The large portals are also open to private individuals.
Nachteil: No access to buyer files; Advertisements cost fees.
Price negotiation
With broker
Vorteil: Market knowledge and routine in negotiations.
Nachteil: You should agree on the marketing strategy and price recommendation in advance.
Sell privately
Vorteil: You negotiate directly, without an intermediary.
Nachteil: Personal ties make factual negotiations difficult.
Costs
With broker
Vorteil: Commission only if the sale is successful.
Nachteil: Example for an external estate agent: 3.57% including VAT, payable by each party — approximately €9,675 on a €271,000 purchase. This is not a statutory rate; it is agreed individually. DDORF WOHNEN is currently free.
Sell privately
Vorteil: No commission.
Nachteil: Costs for advertisements, exposé and, if necessary, a valuation.
Legal certainty
With broker
Vorteil: Checks documents and prepares the notary appointment.
Nachteil: No legal advice - only a notary or lawyer can provide that.
Sell privately
Vorteil: In any case, the notary certifies neutrally.
Nachteil: You are solely responsible for incorrect information, such as defects.
Comparison: Sales with a broker and private sales according to five criteria
criterion
With broker
Sell privately
Effort
Vorteil: The broker takes care of the exposé, inquiries and viewings.
Nachteil: You still coordinate appointments and decisions.
Vorteil: Full control over every step.
Nachteil: Many hours for inquiries, appointments and documents.
Range
Vorteil: Portals, list of noted buyers, local network.
Nachteil: The quality varies greatly from office to office.
Vorteil: The large portals are also open to private individuals.
Nachteil: No access to buyer files; Advertisements cost fees.
Price negotiation
Vorteil: Market knowledge and routine in negotiations.
Nachteil: You should agree on the marketing strategy and price recommendation in advance.
Vorteil: You negotiate directly, without an intermediary.
Nachteil: Personal ties make factual negotiations difficult.
Costs
Vorteil: Commission only if the sale is successful.
Nachteil: Example for an external estate agent: 3.57% including VAT, payable by each party — approximately €9,675 on a €271,000 purchase. This is not a statutory rate; it is agreed individually. DDORF WOHNEN is currently free.
Vorteil: No commission.
Nachteil: Costs for advertisements, exposé and, if necessary, a valuation.
Legal certainty
Vorteil: Checks documents and prepares the notary appointment.
Nachteil: No legal advice - only a notary or lawyer can provide that.
Vorteil: In any case, the notary certifies neutrally.
Nachteil: You are solely responsible for incorrect information, such as defects.
Note
Our conclusion: No way is better per se.
Anyone who has little time or not in Erkrath lives, is more likely to benefit from an agent. If you have time and experience, you can save the commission.
There is no statutory commission. A calculation example for an external broker in Erkrath and NRW are 3.57% including VAT, payable by each party – i.e. 3% plus 19% VAT. This is not a statutory rate and not a DDORF WOHNEN fee. The external agent's commission is agreed individually; the current DDORF services are free of charge.
Calculation example, not a legal sentence
3.57% of the purchase price including VAT, payable by each party; commission agreed externally
Division since 2020
For purchases of apartments and single-family homes by consumers, the allocation of costs depends on the brokerage contract (§§ 656b–656d BGB).
Negotiable
The height can be freely agreed upon. Ask what services are included.
Due
Only if the sale is successful, usually after notarization.
Example calculationcommission 271.000 € purchase price
No. You are allowed to sell privately. In any case, the purchase contract must be notarized. A broker saves you time, but costs commission.
F-02
Who pays the estate agent’s commission in Erkrath?
Sections 656b–656d BGB apply to apartments and single-family homes where the buyer is a consumer. If both parties have brokerage contracts, the fees must be equal. An agreed transfer of costs after a one-sided instruction requires the instructing party to bear at least an equal share, and payment and proof of payment are required. The specific contract arrangement matters.
F-03
How long does a sale take?
A fixed duration cannot be promised. Plan the documents, marketing, viewings, financing and notarial completion separately. The planner uses your own assumptions, not a guaranteed sale period.
F-04
Do I have to pay taxes when selling?
As a rule, not for owner-occupied residential property. Speculation tax may apply to rented properties within ten years of purchase. Clarify individual cases with tax advice - this site does not replace tax or legal advice.
Data sources
Official source · Our own calculation · Our own analysis · DDORF estimate → Methodology
Official sourceGutachterausschuss im Kreis MettmannReal estate reference values, purchase price statisticsPurchase price statistics 2025View source(opens new window)
Official sourceBürgerliches Gesetzbuch§§ 656a–656d BGB · Agent's commissionvalid since 23 December 2020View source(opens new window)
DDORF estimateDDORF-RedaktionDuration and costs: empirical valuesExample values
Source not confirmed separately · Source: DDORF-Redaktion
If you want to sell a condominium, you start with the area, condition and documented property documents. Complete the declaration of division, annual owners’ association budget, accounts and relevant resolutions. A rented apartment must be described as rented; a sale does not create free availability. Check the valuation, exposé, queries and notary appointment as separate steps. Other information is crucial for houses, land and entire apartment buildings.
Sell a house or apartment without an agent
Selling privately does not mean omitting documents and testing. You organize the description, permitted photos, inquiries, appointments and contract preparation yourself. Our free house sale checklist, exposé template and protocol template help with the organization. DDORF is not commissioned to look for buyers or pass on inquiries. If you choose external support later, clarify the scope and conditions directly.
How long does it take to sell a property?
There is no guaranteed period. Complete documentation, condition, price acceptance and actual demand influence preparation and marketing. Financing, contract review and agreed conditions also take time. “Sell an apartment quickly” and “Sell a house immediately” are not DDORF’s service promises: we do not buy any properties ourselves. Consider a realistic process rather than just a promised date.
What costs does the seller of a property bear?
Compile possible expenses for documents, preparation, loan redemption and agreed external services. The sale price is not the amount available to you: outstanding debt, obligations and tax questions must be assessed separately. The sell-or-rent calculator uses your assumptions; it does not provide a binding settlement. DDORF tools are currently free, and using them does not engage an agent.
When should I sell or rent an apartment?
Separate the one-time sales proceeds from any future rental surplus. Compare the effort, your own reserves, maintenance and the period under consideration. Further questions arise when it comes to inheritance, right of residence, usufruct or existing tenancies. Read the appropriate existing specialist page and clarify open points. A calculation with positive numbers does not automatically decide which solution is right for you.
Selling a property despite having an ongoing loan
Put the remaining debt, fixed interest rates and the conditions of your financing next to the expected proceeds. Ask your financing bank for specific redemption information at the planned time; a separate table calculation does not replace this information. For registered mortgages, the bank and the notary must coordinate the processing. Do not assume that the sales price minus today's remaining debt is the final payout amount.
Selling a house in need of renovation: Describe the condition openly
Organize known damage, work that has already been carried out and findings that are still unclear separately. Use existing, dated receipts and describe an offer or cost estimate as such. The price of a renovated neighboring house is not a reliable substitute for the inspection of your property. A general calculator does not evaluate building structure or pollution; this may require specialists and additional documents.
Selling a property: differentiate between the asking price and the sales price
An asking price is the price published in a listing, not proof of a completed transaction. Our market medians are our own analyses of available source data; a DDORF estimate is an indicative calculation of our own. Compare property type, location, date and condition before forming a price assumption. If the city page lacks sufficient data, a neighbouring city’s value is not an automatic substitute.
Selling a property after separation or divorce
Before setting a price or proposing how to divide the proceeds, clarify ownership shares, financing and outstanding obligations. Splitting the estimated proceeds in a calculator is a personal assumption, not a decision on family-law entitlements. Record agreed decisions and unresolved questions, and seek independent advice on specific rights and contract changes.
For individual apartments, a supported local model is required. Approved single-family and two-family home models have a separate calculator. These calculators do not automatically value plots or entire apartment buildings.
Selling a house or apartment privately: check the documents, prepare a factual property brochure and document the handover. No contact form or agency instruction.
Pricing strategy instead of just the desired price
Separate the online estimate of your property from observed asking prices. Then check the condition, rental and documents before setting an asking price.
