Viewing dozens of homes can be exhausting. It’s demoralizing to visit properties that don’t always fit your criteria or that never catch your eye.
But it’s not easy for sellers either.
Receiving piles of potential buyers without ever receiving any interesting offers, preparing your home in preparation for a viewing that will ultimately be cancelled at the last minute… It’s not a very pleasant situation, as you will agree.
So what to do? How about the Off Market?
Don’t know what it is? Or the advantages it can bring you? Let us explain it to you.
What is off market real estate ?
In the real estate sector, “off market” properties are those that are not officially for sale, that you cannot find on the current real estate market. The term “off market” can also refer to properties that are for sale, but are on private listings. In other words, they are reserved for a restricted and limited group of potential buyers.
In short, off-market properties refer to two types of real estate:
Those that are not for sale.
Those that are for sale, but are on private listings reserved for certain customers. They are not accessible to everyone.
Off-market properties are generally high-end or luxury properties, reserved for buyers with a certain budget who prefer to reserve access to their property for serious and solvent buyers.
Some sellers opt for off-market properties for reasons of discretion and confidentiality. They don’t want their friends, family or neighbors to know about the sale of their home.
In both cases, discretion is essential. Off-market properties are therefore not promoted by traditional methods. You won’t find them in magazines or on real estate portals, or you’ll only see few information on it.
What are the advantages of Off Market ?
For the buyers
As buyers, you may be tempted by Off Market real estate for several reasons:
- Unique opportunities: since these properties aren’t on the market, they’re not properties you’ve already visited or seen a hundred times on different advertisements. You have the chance to discover exclusive properties that are not available to everyone.
At Hidden & Listed, we make it our business to present our customers unique luxury properties with charm and character. We like to find properties that stand out from the crowd, and we like to share them with our clients.
- Targeted offers: the Off Market principle is based on discretion and confidentiality, so it goes without saying that you will only be offered properties that meet your criteria, to limit exposure to other properties. This saves you time by avoiding viewing properties that you don’t like or that don’t suit you.
- More possibilities: when you choose the off market, you broaden your possibilities, as you have even more properties to visit. You open up a range of possibilities that were previously out of your reach.
And because off-market properties are often unusual and atypical, you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for, especially if you have special criteria (a home movie theater, a direct access to the beach, a music or fitness studio, etc.).
For the sellers
As sellers, off-market real estate is a plus, because it offers:
- More discretion: not everyone has to know you’re selling your home. Whether you want to be discreet with your family, friends, colleagues or neighbors, the Off Market lets you sell your home without anyone knowing. There’s no big sign in your garden to arouse the curiosity of passers-by.
- No unnecessary visits: by selling your property off-market, you avoid what’s known as real estate tourism. You don’t receive countless visitors, without any of them making an interesting offer. You can sort out the visitors and focus on the real potential buyers.
- Greater security: houses for sale, especially luxury properties, can attract the attention of people with malicious intent. As these properties can be empty, they become a target for burglars. By selling your property off-market, you significantly reduce the risk, since no one knows you’re selling. And nobody can see what you have in your home, which is more reassuring, especially if you have an art collection in your living room.
- More attractive offers: when buyers visit your property, they know they’re looking at something unique and rare, something they wouldn’t normally have the chance to see. They are therefore more inclined to make an interesting offer for your house and/or apartment.
“According to our clients, discretion in relation to their entourage and neighborhood, as well as restricted access to their property for qualified and solvent buyers, are the main reasons why they choose Off Market real estate.”
Matthieu Gaviano, CEO and Founder of Hidden & Listed
What kind of real estate can you find on Off Market?
All kinds of properties can be found in the Off Market sector, from modern to traditional.
But most often it’s luxury properties, historic mansions or special investments.
It’s true that, unlike the usual real estate market, it can be more difficult to find affordable properties, as this is a sector favored by wealthy clients looking to enrich their assets.
How to access Off Market real estate?
Usually, to find off-market properties, you need to contact real estate companies specializing in this field, or networks of professionals already involved in the business.
You can also find off-market real estate by yourself, but this is not the easiest option.
Why’s that?
Because, in addition to finding properties (which isn’t easy without the network and experience of a real estate agency specialized in this field), you need to know how to estimate the value of a property, negotiate with the owner, deal with the administrative paperwork…
Faced with all these tasks, who wouldn’t feel a little overwhelmed?
That’s why it’s best to call on a professional who’s an expert in off-market transactions, so you can be sure you’ll find what you’re looking for, and make an interesting transaction.
At Hidden & Listed, we know just how stressful the process can be for buyers and sellers alike. We’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure that your real estate experience is a memorable one.
How to sell an Off Market property?
To sell a property successfully on the Off Market, you first need to rely on your network. That’s why it’s a good idea to work with an agent who specializes in the field and already has contacts and relationships.
Of course, you can also try to make contacts on your own by attending real estate conferences and trade shows to meet people interested in your property. You can also join closed groups on platforms like Facebook dedicated to confidential real estate transactions.
But all this takes time and organization, and it’s not a very effective method.
Not everyone can afford to invest so much time and energy in selling their home.
And even if you do manage to find someone interested in your property, you still need to know whether they’re serious about it, and whether they have the financial resources to buy it. As an individual, you don’t have access to the resources needed to analyze and validate the profile of potential buyers. So it’s easier and more common to call on qualified professionals.
At Hidden & Listed, we only present our customers with buyers whose identity and funds have been verified, because we know that your time is precious.
To find out more about our methods, click here: Sell off market: The art of discretion
Finally, to sell a property off market, you need to respect a very simple rule: confidentiality.
If you want your luxury property to be seen as unique and exclusive, you should only divulge information about your property to those involved in the transaction.
Conclusion
The Off Market real estate market is all about exclusivity and confidentiality. It’s not just about buying or selling a property, it’s about discovering rare properties with character.
Both buyers and sellers benefit from the many advantages of choosing Off Market real estate. Sellers benefit from greater discretion and are put in touch with interested and reliable customers. Buyers, for their part, discover outstanding properties that will eventually become their much-desired home.
Whether you’re looking to buy or sell an Off Market property, the easiest way is to contact qualified professionals. They’ll be able to give you the benefit of their experience and contacts to make your real estate adventure more enjoyable.
If you’re interested in buying or selling off-market, don’t hesitate to contact us directly. We’ll be delighted to help.
