Real estate brokerage at the highest level

Georg H. Pauling has been working in the real estate industry for many years. As a native of Nordhorn who grew up in Bad Bentheim, he is very familiar with the region and its special features. He has managed the two VON POLL IMMOBILIEN stores in the county since 2015 and looks after customers in all matters relating to real estate brokerage. But what makes a competent estate agent? And what does the real estate market in Grafschaft look like? We asked.

Mr Pauling, how do customers recognize a professional estate agent?

"Detailed specialist knowledge, sound training and a willingness to undergo further training are a must. The VON POLL IMMOBILIEN head office, for example, has its own in-house academy that provides all colleagues with intensive training and continuous professional development. In addition, an estate agent should follow the market situation and case law in order to always be up to date. He knows the market down to the micro-locations, knows the current prices that can be achieved and has an excellent network. There is also the interpersonal aspect. After all, buying or selling a property is the biggest and often most emotional transaction in most people's lives. The focus of our service is therefore always on people. That's why empathy and a good knowledge of human nature are essential."

What can customers expect from you?

"Our range of services is very extensive. We inspect the property, analyze the market, determine a realistic sales price, develop a tailor-made marketing plan and already have prospective buyers in our database who have made reservations for properties. What's more, we take a lot of work off the seller's hands - from creating the exposé and organizing viewing appointments to checking creditworthiness and obtaining the energy certificate."

In 2023, property prices fell in many places - including in the county?

"After years of constant upward trends, prices also fell significantly in the county in 2023. In 2022, the average price for a detached house was €284,558 - today it is €252,911. However, prospective buyers are currently benefiting not only from the lower prices, but also from the current interest rate level, a larger supply and more room for negotiation. It is therefore a good time to buy a property."

What is your forecast for the county's real estate market?"

"We are optimistic about 2024. The county is developing very dynamically - forecasts predict population growth to over 146,000 inhabitants by 2030. The demand for living space will therefore remain high. This development is hardly surprising, as the county offers an excellent mix of nature and infrastructure. There are fast direct connections to the Ruhr region, Münster, Osnabrück and the North Sea. The Bad Bentheim train station is also connected to the Amsterdam-Berlin line. Industrial and commercial companies as well as young entrepreneurs have also recognized the county's potential and have settled there."

Finally, what are you particularly proud of?

"My team and I work with enthusiasm and full commitment every day. We are delighted that this has now been recognized with various awards, as it confirms our high level of qualification and service. We are particularly proud of our performance in the Capital Makler-Kompass - one of the most important awards in the real estate industry. In 2023, we were once again recognized as a five-star broker."