Finding a Room via a Realtor
Many rooms are offered through realtors. What should you keep in mind when looking for a room via a realtor?
Which cities?
The number of rooms offered through realtors varies by city. Generally, you'll find relatively many rooms available through realtors in cities with less housing market pressure, such as Maastricht. In cities where it's harder to find a room, like Amsterdam or Utrecht, only a few rooms are offered through realtors. We've compiled an overview showing what percentage of rooms we find through each channel per city.
| City | Social Media | Anti-squat | Realtor |
|---|
| Amsterdam | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Rotterdam | 97% | 0% | 3% |
| Den Haag | 93% | 0% | 7% |
| Utrecht | 98% | 0% | 2% |
| Eindhoven | 83% | 0% | 17% |
| Tilburg | 88% | 0% | 11% |
| Breda | 64% | 0% | 35% |
| Groningen | 78% | 0% | 22% |
| Nijmegen | 97% | 0% | 3% |
| Maastricht | 33% | 0% | 67% |
| Leiden | 95% | 0% | 5% |
| Delft | 99% | 0% | 1% |
| City | Social Media | Anti-squat | Realtor |
|---|
| Amsterdam | €880 | €500 | €928 |
| Rotterdam | €666 | €331 | €713 |
| Den Haag | €1334 | - | €643 |
| Utrecht | €570 | €300 | €618 |
| Eindhoven | €493 | - | €618 |
| Tilburg | €441 | €308 | €587 |
| Breda | €537 | €250 | €568 |
| Groningen | €2369 | €300 | €626 |
| Nijmegen | €465 | - | €543 |
| Maastricht | €493 | - | €616 |
| Leiden | €484 | - | €678 |
| Delft | €527 | - | €594 |
What does it cost?
Rental prices vary by city, but generally rooms offered through realtors are slightly more expensive. We've compiled an overview showing the average room price per city and per channel based on all rooms we've found.
How does it work?
When a realtor is looking for a new resident, you don't often deal with close-knit groups of residents. The choice for a new resident is usually determined quite business-like by the landlord. They look at things like a permanent employment contract, a parental guarantee, or a student grant, so that it's clear to the landlord that the rent can be paid in any case.
Sometimes campus contracts are also used. You may then continue living in the house as long as you're studying, so that the landlord isn't tied to a resident for too long. They must leave as soon as they finish studying.
Finding a room via a realtor often goes through real estate websites like Pararius. You respond to an advertisement with a short message describing your situation, such as whether you work or study and how old you are. If your answers fit the profile the landlord is looking for, you'll be invited for a viewing, often together with a number of other potential tenants. After the viewing, the landlord chooses one of the candidates.
To maximize your chances of getting a viewing, you can read our guide on writing an introduction letter and gathering the right documents. Hundreds of people often respond to an advertisement for a room. Only the fastest responding candidates who meet the requirements are invited for a viewing. With a Room Ranger subscription, you can be sure you'll always be able to respond as one of the first.
Summary of rooms via realtors:
- Most availability in less popular cities
- On average more expensive than other channels
- Often in houses with less close-knit groups of residents
- New resident is chosen by landlord
- Meeting via viewing with landlord
- Choice is based on 'business' requirements, such as income
- Have a good introduction letter ready
- Make sure you're one of the first to respond