After living abroad for 30 years, I recently returned to the Netherlands with my four children. Although three are now young adults, we chose to begin this new chapter together as a family.
The housing crisis in the Netherlands is heartbreaking. Even as a Dutch national, I found myself facing the possibility of homelessness with four children, one of whom is dealing with health challenges. Finding a rental seemed almost impossible, let alone buying a home.
One day, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across an advertisement from The Brabant Makelaar. Out of desperation more than hope, I decided to respond. Shortly afterward, I received a WhatsApp message from Giellian inviting me for a video call.
From our very first conversation, I had a gut feeling about him. I sensed that his yes meant yes and his no meant no. He came across as honest, straightforward, and genuine. Something about his approach simply felt right. After giving it some thought, I decided to take that leap of faith and try to buy a home.
One of the great advantages of The Brabant Makelaar is their direct connections with mortgage lenders, allowing you to find out within days whether financing is possible.
And believe it or not, within just THREE WEEKS, I had bought my own apartment! Something that once seemed completely out of reach had suddenly become a reality.
The apartment was vacant, and because my family urgently needed a place to call home, Giellian went above and beyond once again. He did everything he could to arrange for me to rent the apartment temporarily and receive the keys immediately, even before the purchase was fully completed. Unfortunately, my experience with the selling agency, Fijne Makelaart, was very disappointing. I found their handling of this part of the transaction unprofessional, adding unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. But Giellian stood his ground, protected my interests, and made sure I was treated fairly. He never backed down when it came to doing what was right for me.
And that is what makes Giellian so special. He is sharp, determined, knowledgeable, and a true go-getter, yet at the same time incredibly compassionate, understanding, and down-to-earth. Working with him never felt like a business transaction. It felt like having a good friend by my side, someone who genuinely cared about my situation while doing everything he could to achieve the best possible outcome.
To have someone who understands your circumstances on such a human level, while remaining honest, direct, and fiercely committed to your best interests, is something truly rare.
Whether I live in this apartment for the rest of my life or one day move on, one thing is certain: Giellian will always hold a special place in my heart. At a time when I needed help, hope, and someone I could trust, he became so much more than my real estate advisor. He became a friend.
Thank you, Giellian, for not only helping me buy a home in just three weeks, but for giving my family a fresh start, peace of mind, and a place to finally call our own. ❤️
I wholeheartedly recommend Giellian and The Brabant Makelaar to anyone looking for not just an exceptional real estate professional, but someone with a big heart who truly cares.
