You may have enjoyed it as much as you can, but there will always come a time when you'll need to sell your
property in Switzerland. It may be time to look for a new place, for instance, or you can no longer manage what you have now anymore. Whatever the case, you need to go about selling real estate in Switzerland wisely. You owe it to yourself and all the times that you enjoyed your stay in this place. So when you finally put your property on the market, follow a few tips. Gathering up the important documents first and setting a move-out date will help you in the long run!
Gather Up The Important Documents Already
What documents do you need to sell your property in Switzerland? The title deed, the floor plan, the cadastral map, Energy Performance Certificate/s, documents relating to the mortgage, and proof of identity for good measure. Do note that some of these may take you a long time to get, particularly those that will come from government offices. In light of this, you'd do well to gather all of these documents before you even put your property in Switzerland for sale. You can guarantee a quicker process for the sale if you do.
Make Home Improvements to Increase The Property Value
You don't need anyone to tell you that a cleaner property with little to no defects will have a higher value. So before you conduct any surveys on your place, spruce it up a bit. Clean it up, deal with the repairs, fix what needs fixing, and if you can, do some renovations too. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way in determining how much you can sell your real estate in Switzerland for. Moreover, once potential buyers see your property, they'll be compelled to offer higher prices for it too.
Conduct The Important Property Surveys
Conducting property surveys is an important part of the process. You can do one beforehand so that you'll know which parts of your property will need improving. And once you've spruced the place up, you can then conduct the valuation. This will determine the true value of your real estate. When you finally put your property in Switzerland for sale, you can base your initial asking price according to the result of the valuation. You can have this done through your
real estate agent or you can hire a third-party company to do it.
Know The Factors in Setting A Property Price
More than just the result of the valuation survey, there are other factors that can influence your property's value. The region they're in is one. Some properties in specific cantons cost more than in other parts of the country. If you
moved to Zürich and bought a home here, for instance, there's a good chance you can sell it at a high price. There's also the location of the property, the type of property, its age & size, and how energy-efficient it is. Fortunately, some of these are found through the valuation or other property surveys too.
Follow Your Duty to Act in Good Faith
Technically speaking, you're not required to be 100% outright when it comes to disclosing information about the property to the buyer. If you don't want to share about various defects and other problems your property in Switzerland has, you don't have to. However, if the buyer takes the initiative to inquire about the property, you're expected to tell the absolute truth. This is according to the Swiss Code of Obligation, wherein sellers have to follow the duty to act in good faith. If not, then you will still be liable for any defect or problem discovered in the property even after the sale.
Think Hard Before Signing The Sales Contract
Signing the sale & purchase contract is among the most important steps of the process. This is what will essentially secure the sale moving forward, which is why you need to think long and hard before signing it. Once you do, then you'll be required to sell the property to the owner. On their end, they'll have to pay you around a 10% to 30% deposit. And if you ever decide to bow out of the agreement after signing the contract, then you'll be liable to pay the buyer back double the amount of the deposit that they initially paid you.
Set A Move-Out Date
Speaking of the sales contract, it's in your benefit to set a move-out date. Remember that the moment the sale is complete and the ownership is transferred, you will no longer have any rights to the property. The new owner can then throw you out if they please. So in order to avoid that, set a move-out date. This will give you enough time to pack your stuff and move out with no rush. This will also help the buyer, the new owner, better prepare to move into the property in Switzerland too. It's a win-win situation for all!
Selling your property in Switzerland is no easy feat. You can easily get into all sorts of problems if you commit just one mistake. So make sure this doesn't happen by following these helpful tips!