Selling a home: document checklist in Switzerland
Selling a property? Prospective buyers expect a professional and complete seller’s pack. With this checklist for selling a house in Switzerland, you’ll be well prepared.
30.09.2024
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1. Seller’s pack for selling a property
Attract interest
An appealing seller’s pack attracts the interest of potential buyers. The following points are key:
Title with the main selling points
Short description
Facts about the property for sale (address, net living space, type of property, year of construction, renovations, number of rooms, number of floors, balcony/terrace, grounds, underground parking, outdoor parking, etc.)
Detailed property description
Description of the region and residential area
Point out the highlights (for example if there is a spacious terrace, walk-in closet in the master bedroom, etc.)
Purchase conditions with a selling price in line with market expectations
Earliest possible move-in date
Contact details of the seller
Do you know how much your property is worth?
At Comparis, you can have the value of your home estimated free of charge and get an initial indication of a fair market price.
2. Sales documentation to be included
Completing the pack
To complete the seller’s pack, you’ll need to provide additional home sale documentation. In particular, you need the following documents:
Floor plan
Proof of renovations
Safety certificate for electrical installations (SiNa)
Certificate of building insurance
Document on imputed rental value or tax value
Building plans and building description
If available: cantonal building energy certificate (GEAK)
Manuals and warranty information for devices and installations
Optional: information on current mortgages, if you plan to sell with a mortgage
Good to know: an estate agent will help you gather the documents you need and market the property successfully.
3. Documents for condominium ownership
Documentation for condominiums.
If you own a condominium, you’ll need to provide additional documents.
You need the following documents:
Deed of constitution including condominium plans
Rules; usage and administrative regulations
Minutes and annual accounts for the past few years
Breakdown of running costs
4. Documents for investment properties
Documentation for investment properties
To sell an investment property, you also need the following:
Existing rental agreements
Rent roll
Rental documentation
Comparis guide to selling your property
Would you like to know more about selling your property – from the first steps to valuation and a successful sale?
5. Three expert tips for successful sales documentation
It takes specialist expertise and knowledge of the market to create specialist sales documentation. These tips help make your dossier a success.
Listing a property several times at different prices makes the seller lose credibility. They run the risk of obtaining a lower price for their property. An online property valuation or a professional assessment by an estate agent will help you determine a fair market price.
Highlight the advantages of your property and ensure optimal staging. Be transparent about which components need to be renovated and when bigger investments, such as replacing the heating, are due.
In principle, sales documentation should be objective, neutral and not overly promotional. Numerous templates are available online.
Preparing sales documentation on your own takes time. In addition, you need construction knowledge, design skills, an understanding of the market and other know-how.
And there are costs involved: professional photos can quickly come to several thousand francs. You also have to factor in monthly fees for listing on property portals.
Therefore, it may be worth hiring an estate agent to prepare your sales documentation. Reputable estate agents include this in their sales commission.
Estate agents also take care of a detailed estimate of the property’s value. Furthermore, they take care of the advertising and represent the seller’s interests when drawing up the sales contract.
Depending on the region and the type of property being sold, an estate agent generally costs between 2– 3% of the sales price.
It’s good to check
You can ask an estate agent the most important questions to verify their expertise. Plus, after putting the documentation together, it’s worth checking it carefully. Mistakes can easily creep in. Also make sure that the text reads well and is free from errors.
This article was first published on 08.05.2019
