Erik
Estate agent
"Whether you've lived in Amsterdam all your life or have only just landed here: I'll tell you upfront what to look out for, so you don't run into any surprises."
Fourteen years of helping people settle in a new country.
I'm Erik, an estate agent at Makelaar in Amsterdam. I do viewings of our homes for sale and go along with buying clients. They're Amsterdammers who want to move to something bigger or smaller, and people who have just moved to the city.
Before I became an estate agent, I worked in relocation for fourteen years. I helped employees of large international companies move to another country: to the Netherlands, or from the Netherlands abroad. Most of them came from the United States, Europe and Asia. I looked for homes, accompanied viewings, drew up rental agreements, found schools for the children and arranged residence and work permits. And after that, I made sure people settled in well in their new country.
I came into real estate through Micha. We got talking, and he asked if I'd come and help in his business. There's a lot of overlap with my old job, but Amsterdam really is a world of its own.
Knowing upfront what you're getting into.
Amsterdam is a market of its own: things move fast here. A good home is gone in no time, you bid against a deadline and you have to put in your best offer straight away. On top of that, in Amsterdam you deal with ground lease (erfpacht), owners' associations (VvE), steep canal house stairs and houses built on wooden piles. For anyone from outside the city or outside the Netherlands, that's all new. Thanks to my years in relocation, I think of it straight away, and I prefer to explain it before we even start. Then again, it has its charm too: those Amsterdam quirks are exactly what makes the work fun.
What I enjoy most is the contact with people. At a viewing, I get a feel for whether a home suits someone. Does it fit the budget, and are there any catches you need to take into account? And with our homes for sale, I love telling viewers enthusiastically what makes a home so special.
We're a small, close-knit team, and I notice that clients feel that. We're approachable and we simply say how things are, to each other and certainly to our clients.
Zuid, the football pitch and dinners out.
I live in Amsterdam-Zuid with my wife and our two sons, teenagers by now. One of them plays football, so we're often on the sidelines. Now that the boys are older, my wife and I love going out for dinner together, and we see a lot of family and friends. Zuid is my home, but I also enjoy spending time in the city centre, where it's just that bit livelier.
What you can expect from me.
Erik, at work and out on the street.
Feel free to get in touch.
Buying or selling in Amsterdam, or just moved here and want to know how things work? Feel free to call, email or WhatsApp me. Or book an introduction.
Email ErikOr call +31 6 12 53 89 28 · erik@makelaarinamsterdam.nl
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