Property valuation – what is my home worth?

Why do we need all this space? Do we still really want to live in a city? Wouldn't it be much nicer to spend our old age in the country? Or shall we move closer to our grandchildren? These are questions that homeowners typically ask themselves after many years of living in the same home. If after careful consideration they eventually decide that they do want to sell, the next question is: how much is our home worth anyway?

Whatever the reason for selling your home, you need to think this step through properly. Once your decision to sell is final, you need to find out what price you can ask for your home.

• Obtain a valuation
• Criteria used to value a home
• Free online estimation
• Professional appraisal by BeneCasa
• Benefits of using an estate agent
• Why shouldn't I value my home myself?

Value and sell your home

Obtain a valuation

At comparis.ch, you can find an initial guide to the prices of similar properties in your area.Just be aware that this does not provide an accurate valuation of your home.

Criteria used to value a home

Various criteria are used to estimate a home's value, such as:

• Location / immediate environment
• Access to public transport
• Schools
• Shops
• Water, parks, green spaces
• Density of surrounding buildings
• Facilities such as car parking spaces
• Living space
• Renovation status, e.g. heating, windows, roof, “Minergie” building standard

It's only advisable to sell your property without the help of an expert if you have in-depth knowledge of the property market and are fully familiar with all the dos and don'ts. Everyone else should seek professional advice. A qualified and certified estate agent can provide a valuation of your home and ensure a realistic selling price.

Free online estimation

The first and easiest step in the process of selling your home is to get an online estimation. You can obtain one from Comparis free of charge. Supplied by BeneCasa (website in German and French only), a Swiss network of qualified estate agents and a partner service of Comparis, the estimation tool utilizes micro-location technology, the very latest property market information (based on actual selling prices), the location and the description of the property. It provides the basis for a more in-depth appraisal by a professional estate agent.

Professional appraisal by BeneCasa

The online estimation is not an official valuation. BeneCasa can help you find a professional, certified estate agent responsible for your region who can carry out a proper appraisal.

Benefits of using an estate agent:

• High standard of professional advice
• No-obligation, expert appraisal at your home
• Help with preparing the sales pack and advertising
• Help with notarization
• Consideration of finer details beyond the scope of an online estimation
• All your questions answered personally and communication with potential buyers
• Credit checks on potential buyers
• Viewings handled for you
• Advice on how best to present your home to achieve the maximum sales price
• Interest in achieving a high sales price

Sell your home easily and with peace of mind

Another major advantage is that BeneCasa allows you to seek the opinion of up to two estate agents. This way, you can be sure of being quoted a realistic price for your home and can market it to prospective buyers with confidence. BeneCasa's advice and professional market value appraisal also helps you reach more potential buyers. What's more, estate agents have access to a network of potential buyers, so your home should find a new owner more quickly.

Why shouldn't I value my home myself?

There are many factors to take into account when valuing a property and some are more significant than non-professionals might think. If you have lived in your home for a long time, you become used to its potential inconveniences, such as the the fact that it takes 15 minutes to walk to the nearest station. Although you may find the walk agreeable, potential buyers may see it as a drawback. In addition, if you do not have an adequate understanding of the market situation, your estimation can be grossly inaccurate, resulting in unrealistic price expectations. Setting too high a price can unnecessarily prolong the selling process. If your price is too low, you are giving money away.

Get an online estimation of the value of your home and gain no-obligation access to BeneCasa, the Swiss network of qualified estate agents.