Where would you like to sit?’ asks Manon de Lange of The Hague Real Estate Services, who has just finished a phone call. She gestures toward various rooms. ‘Choose whatever is most comfortable.’ At the back of the long corridor, you'll find a range of cozy rooms, each with its own unique style. Do you prefer pink-purple? Botanical green? Or a natural palette? There’s plenty to choose from.

Manon de Lange of The Hague Real Estate Services

You wouldn't expect such a vibrant color scheme from a typical estate agent, but Manon de Lange is far from typical. 'I like to color outside the lines and don’t worry about conventional norms. This also shows in my choice of clothing—it's either nude or short, and my lingerie is often visible.'

Onno Binnerts

In February 2023, Manon de Lange and her business partner, Onno Binnerts, moved into this national monument at Anna Paulownastraat 73, where she describes herself as an 'energetic broker.' 'I aim to connect with people through warmth and trust,' she explains. 'Unlike many estate agents who focus solely on transactions and revenue, I want to make the industry more engaging and personable.'

But De Lange is used to hard work. Twenty years ago, she was a personal assistant to a real estate family, managing an entire team. "That’s where I was really drilled. It was really hard work,' she says. She also arranged everything for lingerie designer Marlies Dekkers. "Until deep into the night, if necessary." When she became pregnant with her eldest son, she decided it was time for a more conventional job. By coincidence, she found work with a real estate agent. "I did inside sales. Super boring. Not for me at all. When I told my manager I needed a more challenging role, he said, "That’s fine, go set up rentals."

And she did, with enthusiasm. "I created a cost-benefit analysis on paper, and after just a few weeks, I realized I wanted to do this on my own. Within a year, I left my job."

She asked her childhood friend Onno, whom she has known since she was 19, if he would join her. He agreed, along with another colleague. The partners then launched their new company, The Hague Real Estate Services, on Koninginnegracht. "We were in a basement, but hey, we had our own company!"

Zeeheldenkwartier

When Onno and Manon decided to move forward together, it quickly became clear who would handle what. De Lange explains: "Onno would manage the back end, including financial and legal matters, while I would focus on the front end—commerce. In other words, I bring in the customers."

Not long after, a property owner made an unexpected offer: his building in the Zeeheldenkwartier became available. Could it be a fit for The Hague Real Estate Services? "I saw the property and was immediately sold," De Lange recalls. "The only problem was the price—it was too high." She made a counter-offer and waited for a response. "I expected him to call back, but nothing happened."

At the back of the long pipe bay are all kinds of cosy rooms, each with its own style.

After a week of anxiety, she wrote down seven conditions and went to the real estate agent's office to present them. “I stood there with shaking knees, stuttering as I handed over my conditions along with a small gift. He unfolded the paper, glanced at it, and shook my hand. And just like that, he accepted my offer. It was a matter of trust. Yes, sometimes it happens that way."

The Hague Real Estate Services

The services provided by The Hague Real Estate Services, or THRES as De Lange refers to her company, are highly valued not just by clients but also by industry professionals. "During the last audit by the NVM (Dutch Association of Estate Agents), the quality inspector praised us highly," De Lange recalls. 'She said, "The love for the work radiates from it."De Lange adds, 'I believe that's why we attract so many clients. We handle the highest number of rental transactions in the Netherlands."

But with changing regulations on rents, many investors are increasingly considering selling their investments. 'This spring, I told Onno, "We'd be crazy if we don’t add sales to our portfolio." Although Onno is a registered broker, he quickly responded, 'I’m not going to do it.' So now, we work with a commission-based sales agent, purely to build brand awareness."

Box 3

Recently, Manon de Lange received many questions from landlords about the capital gains tax under the new Box 3 rules. “Together with my team, we developed a handy tool that lets you easily and accurately calculate your tax liability and determine your investment return, all without using a calculator. It’s been purchased in large quantities.”

Anyone planning to rent out their property can take a video course at THRES. In eight modules, De Lange explains the risks and types of contracts, as well as what 'delivering your house clean' means. She will launch a new version in November 2023. 'People greatly misjudge what is involved in renting, especially with the current points system.' Don’t want the hassle? Then property management might be for you. That’s also a service offered by THRES. De Lange explains, 'We handle everything: from thoroughly screening potential tenants to managing all administrative tasks. Is a shower head broken? We take care of it. Is there a legal dispute? We resolve it.

Own campsite

De Lange has been co-owner of THRES for ten years now. How does she envision the next decade? 'In two years, I hope to run my own campsite in the Netherlands. I love nature and people so much. The site will have space for retreats, meditation, and yoga. That’s where my heart lies. My biggest dream is to do this together with Onno and his wife. Will I stop doing brokerage then? No, I’ll keep at it. You don’t get rich from camping, you know.'"

www.thehaguerealestate.nl