Veröffentlicht von Tim Lindenberger am 26.10.2020

Selling your own property in Switzerland as an expat – these 4 points must be taken into account

Are you planning to sell your property in Switzerland? In this brief overview you will learn how to proceed when selling your detached house or condominium and what you should pay attention to so that the sales process will not be unnecessarily protracted.

Step 1 - Finding the right price

At the beginning of every sales project is the question of the right price. Wrong price expectations are a frequent reason why the sale of a property is not successful. A fair market price guarantees that in the end buyer and seller find a common denominator. We therefore recommend that you rely on a professional valuation by a regional real estate agent for the correct assessment of the selling price. He knows the local conditions and can assess your property correctly. You can find out here, why you should rely on Team Lindenberger for your evaluation.

Step 2 - Creating a sales folder

For a successful sale of your property not only the right price is of central importance, but also the sales folder of your property.

You should prepare the following documents for the sale of a detached house:

  • A complete and up-to-date extract from the land register
  • Floor plans for area calculation
  • Building insurance policy including cubage
  • A complete list of the renovations carried out
  • Overview of service charges (heating, water, electricity etc.)

If you sell a condominium, you will also need the following documents:

  • Extract from the land register
  • Floor plans
  • Building insurance policy
  • Status of renewal funds
  • Protocols of the last 3 years
  • Service charge settlements of the last 3 years
  • Regulations
  • List of renovations carried out
  • Contact of administration

Make it as easy as possible for your potential buyers to discover your property in all its facets with the sales folder. Professional and high-quality photos of the property, floor plans, land register excerpts, building insurance policies as well as an overview of the latest renovations are an absolute must in every good sales folder. In the case of condominium ownership, additional documents such as minutes, service charge statements or regulations are also required as sales-related documents.

Step 3 - Considering costs and taxes

If you sell your detached house or condominium in Switzerland, you must expect two forms of taxation:

  • Property gains tax
  • Property transfer tax

The property gains tax must always be paid if you make a profit on the sale of the property. However, there are various cost items that you can deduct from tax. This includes cost items such as refurbishment costs, renovation work and conversions to the building. Costs related to the sale can also be deducted. Your regional property marketer will be happy to advise you in this regard.

The property transfer tax is a tax regulated at cantonal level. It accrues in each case when a property is transferred. Unlike property gains tax, which is only payable if you make a profit, property transfer tax is usually always payable when a transfer of a property takes place. In Basel-Land, 1.25% of the purchase price is payable by both the buyer and the seller as property transfer tax (the buyer does not have to pay property transfer tax on owner-occupied residential property, provided that he or she has lived in the property himself or herself for at least two years). In the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Solothurn, the buyer must pay the property transfer tax. As a rule, the property transfer tax in the canton of Basel-Stadt is 3% of the sales value.

Step 4 - Preparing your property for sale

The decisive last step on the way to a successful sale: Prepare your property for viewings and potential buyers. Make sure that your property can present itself from the best side. Clean the windows, remove the leaves from the entrance area, tidy the rooms... there are many ways to prepare your property for sale. But never try to conceal or hide defects. Always stay honest. Otherwise it is possible that price reductions may occur after the sale.

That is why you should rely on a regional property marketer

Would you like to receive a first rough estimate of your property? Then we recommend that you take a look at our online evaluation tool. Here you have the opportunity to make an uncomplicated and non-binding initial assessment of your property.

However, if you are seriously interested in a successful sale of your property in the area of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land or Solothurn, you should rely on an on-site valuation by a professional marketer or valuation expert. By doing so you can be sure that your property is sold at the best price and you can enjoy a pleasant sales experience. By the way, with Team Lindenberger the valuation of your property is free of charge if you also carry out the sale of your property with us. We are happy to take time for you. Contact our assessment team and rely on the expertise of Team Lindenberger.

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