Signing the contract and transferring ownership when selling a property

Taxes and costs at a glance
Property sales entail paying various taxes and fees. You will need to pay notary fees as well as commission if you’re using an estate agent. The entry in the land register also costs money. If you don’t want to pass on the mortgage certificate to your buyer, you can have it nullified for a fee. You will have to pay taxes for transferring ownership of the property, and on any profits you generate with the sale. The amount depends on the canton and sometimes even the municipality.

Transferring property ownership at a notary office
The notary will prepare and notarize the sales contract. They will then make an entry in the land register with the new owner’s information. You will be charged a fee for this service. The amount depends on the canton and the individual notary being used. Generally, the buyer and seller share the cost of notarial services.

Property transfer tax
When selling a property, you have to pay property transfer tax. The amount depends on the canton (and in some rare cases, the municipality). Find out how to calculate how much property transfer tax you have to pay.

Capital gains tax on property
If you make a profit on selling your property, you will have to pay capital gains tax. The amount varies significantly depending on the canton and how long you owned the property.

Estate agent commission
Estate agents receive a commission for their services. Find out information about estate agent fees from Comparis, and get tips on what to look out for in your estate agent contract.

Finding bridging solutions
Comparis gives you tips for successfully planning relocation when selling property. It’s not always possible to have a seamless transition between your old and new home. For this reason we recommend looking for temporary living arrangements early on in the process.

Moving checklist
Moving can be a time-consuming and stressful process. Comparis has put together a comprehensive moving checklist to help you get through your move stress-free in five steps.

Moving guide
Will you need to use professional movers or cleaners for your upcoming move? With the moving guide you can request up to five quotes via our moving partner topmovers, free of charge and with no obligation. The guide also provides information and tips, and can help you figure out how much your move or final cleaning costs will be.