Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

CULTURE

Six ways Germans could learn to deal with foreigners better

This may be a bitter pill to swallow, but many expats live in Germany despite the people, not because of them. So how do we change this?

Published: 24 March 2017 15:23 CET
Six ways Germans could learn to deal with foreigners better
Photo: Pexels.com

Expat surveys consistently show that Germany is a great place to move to. The education is first-class, it offers the ideal setting to raise children, and finding a well-paid job isn’t too difficult.

But when it comes to social life, expats always seem slightly miserable and isolated.

In the 2016 Expat Explorer Survey, one respondent said “In Germany, people are weirded out by too much friendliness too fast.”

Meanwhile in the InterNations Expat Insider Survey 2016, Germany came 55th out of 67 countries for overall friendliness.

Obviously integration is a two-way street and there are things expats can do better to fit in, as we discuss here.

But if Germany is going to become an immigrant nation, it too is going to have to adapt. We provide a few pointers to our stern but straightforward Teutonic companions.

1. Only switch to English if asked

We are only too aware of how frustrating it probably is. You have been speaking the language of Shakespeare almost as long as we have.

But it really doesn’t help if you start by assuming you should speak English to foreigners. Of course most Germans just want to make conversation as easy as possible, but sometimes you need to have patience. The worst offenders switch to English at the slightest hint of a foreign accent in German.

So here is the rule: only switch to English if you are asked, or if the person clearly speaks no German. If you make it seem natural that the conversation is going on in German, you will put us at ease much more quickly!

2. Try a bit of small talk

German directness is something you definitely come to appreciate with time. An ability to dispassionately analyse any situation is a sign of national maturity sorely lacking from certain neighbouring countries.

But when it comes to breaking the ice, this directness can sometimes backfire.

Not everyone feels comfortable starting up a new friendship by having an involved conversation about the inner workings of their country’s political system.

While we tend to agree that there are better ways to spend your time than discussing the weather for half an hour, sometimes you have to be prepared to lose a battle to win the war.

Try warming an Englishman up with a chat about the rainy weather before smoothly seguing into: “talking about dark clouds, that whole Brexit thing is causing a bit of storm, eh?”

Photo: Pexels.com

3. Invite people to things

Americans and Australians are almost psychopathically friendly people. They will invite you on a camping trip or to a barbecue almost before they know your name.

It's probably no coincidence that these two countries were built by immigrants and that the need to welcome new people into a community became ingrained in their behaviour.

Like Brits, Germans are rather sedentary folks who don’t tend to stray too far from the nest. This has engendered a cautiousness that is evident in the strict difference between a Bekannter (acquaintance) and a Freund (friend).

Once we make it from Bekannter to Freund, you're great, but does it have to take so long? There is probably no single thing that will change immigrant perceptions of Germans more than including them from the beginning.

4. Don’t over-correct

Maybe it is pedantic to point this out, and yes you are just trying to help – but being overly pedantic can be really annoying.

If you correct people while they are speaking your language, they will start to feel super self-conscious. It is probably best not to correct at all: foreigners are never going to learn German 100 percent perfectly, and you are just going to have to live with that.

So unless you really don’t understand what the person is trying to say, just let them speak their slightly garbled Denglisch.

5. Do ask to Duzen

Young Germans are much better at this anyway. But if you are not in a formal office setting that absolutely requires using “Sie” (the formal you), it is a good rule of thumb with foreigners from the Anglosphere to switch to “du” as soon as possible.

We do not have a formal way of addressing people, and we did away with calling people Mister a long time ago. The quicker you are on first name terms with us, the sooner we will feel relaxed around you.

6. Learn to flirt

Photo: Pexels.com

What better way is there to nail down those new immigrants you need so badly then to have them fall in love with you?

Well, being a bit more flirtatious might help. A common complaint among foreigners on the dating scene in Germany is that it is so hard to know if Germans are really into you. That’s because you guys seem to chat in such a normal way that you can never be sure if you just see the relationship as friendship.

So it’s time to start inviting foreigners to parties, practising your best one-liners (in German of course!), and meeting us with a bit of superficial small talk – and before you know it, Germany will be booming with a flotilla of smiley, out-going multilingual babies!

For members

PROPERTY

Who pays broker’s fees on property in Germany – and how much do they cost?

One of the major hidden costs of buying and selling property in Germany is the estate agent's commission, or broker's fee. We look at some of the unusual rules around it - and how much you can expect to pay.

Published: 17 September 2024 16:25 CEST
Who pays broker's fees on property in Germany - and how much do they cost?

There are many areas of life in which things in Germany function just that little bit differently – and buying a house is no exception.

Though the buoyant property market in the Bundesrepublik makes it an attractive place to buy, anyone looking to get their foot on the housing ladder should consider the hidden fees they might incur.

Beyond interest rates, taxes and fees for notaries and translators, one major outlay is the estate agent’s commission, which can sometimes stretch to thousands of euros.

Here’s what to know about these hefty fees and how you might be able to lower them. 

Who pays commission on property transactions in Germany?

If you come from another European country or somewhere like the United States, you may be used to a system in which the seller pays the broker’s fee. This intuitively makes sense because the estate agent is there to market the property, liaise with buyers and ultimately get the best price for the seller – so it makes sense that the seller should pay for these services.

Until recently, however, it was the buyer who was responsible for paying the entirety of the estate agent’s commission in Germany. That meant that these fees – which could be as high as seven percent of the purchase cost – were added to the mountain of extra costs buyers had to contend with, from notary fees to land transfer tax.

READ ALSO: The hidden costs of buying a house in Germany

Luckily for buyers (but less so for sellers), this was changed under a law that came into force at the end of 2020. Since then, costs are generally split 50/50 between buyers and sellers.

However, there are some details that are important to note here. If the seller commissions the estate agent to help them sell their home, they are technically liable for the costs but must pay a minimum of 50 percent. 

If the buyer commissions the estate agent to find them a home, the same rules apply the other way around: the buyer is liable for the costs but can obtain a maximum of 50 percent from the seller.

In each case, the side that commissioned the broker must prove they have paid their share before the other side is liable to pay theirs. 

How much do estate agents’ fees cost in Germany?

Commission on property sales varies from state to state but is generally set at between 5 and 7 percent of the purchase price.

According to online portal ImmobilienScout24, these were the standard rates that applied in each of the federal states in 2024, with the number in brackets representing a 50 percent share of the costs:

Baden-Württemberg: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Bavaria: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Berlin: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Brandenburg: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Bremen: 5.95 percent (2.97 percent)

Hamburg: 6.25 percent (3.12 percent)

Hesse: 5.95 percent (2.97 percent)

Lower Saxony: 4.76 – 5,95 percent or 7.14 percent, depending on the region. (2.38 – 3.57 percent)

Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania: 5.95 percent (2.97 percent)

North Rhine-Westphalia: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Rhineland-Palatinate: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Saarland: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Saxony: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Saxony-Anhalt: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Schleswig-Holstein: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

Thuringia: 7.14 percent (3.57 percent)

If it’s hard to gauge how much this means in real terms, we can take the example of two properties: a €200,000 apartment and a €500,000 family home.

In the state of Hesse, a buyer splitting the broker’s fee equally with the seller would pay €5,940 to buy the €200,000 apartment and €14,850 to buy the €500,000 house.

In pricier Berlin, meanwhile, the same buyer would pay €7,140 on the €200,000 apartment and €17,850 on the €500,000 house.

READ ALSO: Is autumn 2024 the right time to buy a property in Germany?

Here’s where it gets more complicated, however: under German law, you are technically free to negotiate the commission with your estate agent.

That means that, especially in areas with stiff competition, you may be able to secure a better deal. 

Do I always have to pay commission in Germany? 

Not always. In fact, as a seller, you’re perfectly free to sell your property privately without enlisting the help of a real estate agent.

The benefit of this, of course, is that you can potentially save thousands of euros in fees, both for yourself and any prospective buyer. 

On the flip side, though, you will need to take the entire job of the estate agent on yourself, from marketing the property to liaising with potential buyers and finally closing the deal.

Real estate agent Germany

A real estate agent talks to prospective tenants at an apartment viewing. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Tobias Hase

There can also be some upfront costs involved in commissioning things like floor plans and professional photography, as well as the time you’ll need to invest in learning all the procedures and preparing relevant documents for notary – to name just a few examples.

Ultimately, though, it’s up to you to decide whether the expense of working with a professional broker is worth it in the end. 

As a buyer, there are also some situations where you’ll see the words ‘provisionsfrei’ – or commission-free – written in a property listing.

This is fairly common in new-build properties, where the developer may sell the homes directly to interested buyers. More rarely, an existing property may be listed without commission, making it a more attractive proposition.

In both cases, it’s possible that commission has been built into the purchase price, so you may not necessarily be getting a better deal.

Another case where you’re likely to be able to avoid commission as a buyer are so-called Kapitalanlagen – or buy-to-let properties. 

READ ALSO: Should you think about purchasing a buy-to-let property in Germany?

These tenanted properties are designed to be bought as investments: buyers can enjoy additional rental income over time and, ideally, will also make money when they come to sell the property several years later.

For this reason, costs are generally kept slightly lower for the buyer by eschewing the standard broker’s commission. 

SHOW COMMENTS