Real estate knowledge.
Simply explained.

First order the land register extract and collect plans, mortgage agreement and evidence of major work. Determine with the bank when you can replace the existing financing. Only then do price determination, photos, viewings and the selection of purchase offers follow. Allow enough time between the commitment, notarisation and handover to finance the purchaser.

In addition to the land register extract, provide the distribution plan, the regulations, the most recent annual accounts and the minutes of meetings. Mark approved renovations, special contributions due and the amount of the renewal fund. Clarify which garden areas, ancillary rooms and parking spaces are allocated to the unit. This allows buyers to assess ongoing costs and upcoming investments separately.

Separate defects that can cause consequential damage from questions of taste. Get a quote for heating, windows or roofing. Compare the net proceeds from selling as-is with the proceeds after renovation, minus costs and additional months. If the kitchen is intact, plans or an offer for future expansion are often more helpful than remodeling to suit your own taste.

For each offer, write down who is buying, how the financing is documented and what reservations still exist. If one party demands the sale of their existing home, the date can be postponed. During a bidding process, everyone should receive the same documents and deadlines. Document in writing when you received which offer and which points are still outstanding.

Factor in photos, measurements, advertisements, viewing appointments and your own time. For a broker mandate, have it explained to you which services are included in the fee, when it is due and which expenses are incurred separately. Check the term, exclusivity and regulations for prospective buyers that you already know.

Allocate the plot of land on the official map and obtain the binding zoning plan and building regulations from the municipality. Record access, development, boundary distances and easements. Separate proven possibilities from untested project ideas in the sales particulars. For a specific development, a written clarification from the responsible authority helps.

Create an overview of available funds, the desired amount in reserve and the additional acquisition costs. Calculate monthly interest, amortization, maintenance and, if you own a condominium, community costs. Have the bank confirm affordability and the loan-to-value for the specific property. Your financing may change if the bank values ​​the property lower than the purchase price.

Write down the amount, the earliest payment date and a receipt for each item. Clarify with the pension fund and bank whether early withdrawal or pledging is possible for the project and what consequences this has for pension provision and insurance. A written agreement helps for a gift or an advance inheritance. Set aside money for utilities and moving.

Compare different terms, bank margins, fees and cancellation rules for the same loan amount. A fixed-rate mortgage makes it easier to plan your budget over the agreed term. With a SARON mortgage, the interest rate changes with the reference interest rate and the contract conditions. Let us show you how higher interest rates and early sales affect your budget.

Ask the bank for a specific transfer amount for the planned date. If you purchase another property, you can have a transfer checked. A takeover by the buyer also requires the consent of the bank. The remaining term, any compensation and the date of the change of ownership are decisive for the invoice.

Clarify in writing who will accept a deposit, how it will be credited and what will happen if the financing or purchase fails. Have the notarial draft and the current land register extract checked at an early stage. Pay particular attention to areas sold, known defects, promises to pay, handover date and the treatment of existing mortgage notes.

In order to increase the mortgage, the bank needs understandable construction costs and a realistic schedule. Record AHV, pensions, liquid reserves and future maintenance for retirement. Also consider what a necessary roof or heating renovation would change your available income. Have a separate financing proposal drawn up for each option.

Compare properties with a similar year of construction, expansion, area and location. An advertised price shows the seller's expectations. The actual price paid cannot be derived from this alone. Document differences in noise, views, condition and upcoming investments. In the case of an investment property, the sustainably achievable rents and costs play an additional role.

The insured value refers to the insured building. The bank evaluates the property for its credit decision. What is important for the sale is the price that a solvent buyer is likely to pay. Use the three numbers for their respective purposes. For a division of an inheritance or a procedure, clarify which body must accept the report before placing the order.

First compare similar properties in your own community or in neighborhoods with similar development. Check the actual walking distance to the train station, local amenities and the location on main roads. For an apartment, record the floor, elevator, outside area and renovations separately. Only transfer a price per square meter from another region after these comparisons.

Start with an anonymized tenant list. Record rent, separately billed additional costs, vacancies and outstanding amounts per unit. Deduct management, costs that cannot be passed on and a justified provision amount from the sustainable income. A return based on gross rents can make a house with an upcoming facade renovation appear too cheap.

Determine the realistic annual net rent and deduct community costs that cannot be passed on, maintenance and vacancy reserves. Put the amount in relation to the purchase price and additional acquisition costs. Check separately how much money remains available after interest and amortization. A larger special contribution from the community should also be financed in the event of temporary vacancies.

Record the condition, standard of construction, location and comparable rental properties. If you are re-letting, check the previous rent and the reasons for a change. Whether an official form is required when concluding a contract depends on the applicable cantonal law. Check the current federal overview for the location of the apartment.

Create an apartment list with floor, area, floor plan, rent as well as parking space and additional costs. Communicate binding and expected dates separately. Keep a record of who answers open questions about construction and changes. Arrange a handover date for each apartment with enough time for meter readings, keys and any remaining work.

Note the date, people involved, meter readings and number of keys. Describe each defect in such a way that it can be found again. Add dated photos with the consent of those involved. Separate the determination of damage from the question of who will pay for it. Sign the jointly reviewed minutes and give each party a copy.

Compare your bank statement and rental agreement. Create a statement with months, outstanding rent and payments. Retain communications and proof of delivery. Formal requirements apply to the payment deadline, threat of termination and subsequent termination. Have these checked before shipping. If there is an ongoing dispute, the Federal Office will name the responsible arbitration authority.

Calculate furniture, cleaning, laundry, platform costs and vacancies per month. Before you begin, clarify with the municipality and canton whether accommodation, reporting obligations or taxes are affected. If you own a condominium, check the regulations and, if you are subletting, check the obligations from the main rental agreement. A high daily rate alone says little about the annual yield.

Ask for the rental agreement, addenda, proof of deposit and details of any ongoing disputes. Plan with the existing circumstances until the legal situation is clarified. If you would like to move in yourself, have the admissibility, deadline and possible challenge checked for the specific case. Do not agree on a fixed move-in based on a verbal promise.

Deduct the mortgage, any transfer fee, agreed commission and your share of the notary and land register. Maintain property gains tax and any property transfer tax as separate items. Keep estimates and written information separate. The tax administration of the real estate canton is decisive for the specific rules.

Separate ongoing maintenance from potential value-adding investments and keep invoices along with proof of payment. Record the purchase date, original purchase price, and previous tax deferrals. In the case of a replacement purchase of owner-occupied residential property, the requirements for a postponement may be met. Have the relevant canton check the deadlines and reinvestment for your case.

Record location, purchase price, parties and planned use. Check with the cantonal tax administration whether the transfer is taxable, which people owe the tax and whether an exemption is possible. Have taxes, land registry fees and notary services quoted separately. Record the cost sharing agreed between the parties in the draft purchase agreement.

Please also request the receipt and an existing plan for the current land register extract. This can show who is allowed to use a driveway, how and who maintains it. In the case of a right of first refusal, the notary's office will clarify who needs to be informed and what deadlines apply in the specific case. Give the documents to people interested in buying before signing.

Allocate mortgage interest, maintenance, energy investments and insurance receipts to the respective year. Rules of the previous system and the decided system change can have different consequences. Check the official status and cantonal guidance before scheduling a renovation because of an expected deduction.

Collect proof of inheritance, land register extracts, mortgage documents and an overview of current bills. Decide together who will obtain offers and which decisions a power of attorney covers. Compare sales, rentals and acquisition by a family member using the same valuation. Keep resolutions and statements accessible to everyone involved.

Compare the available net sales proceeds with the rental income after vacancy, maintenance, financing and administration. Bring the community of heirs on the same page about upcoming work and the distribution of ongoing costs. For a rental, the signature, administration, budget and access to the rental payments must be clarified.

Record who is in the land register, who signed the loan agreement and what funds each party contributed. Let the same market value be used for sales and acquisitions. The bank should clarify in writing whether one party can provide the financing alone and the other is released from liability. Regulate the transition period including costs and usage.

First, clarify whether you want to use specific rooms or the entire property and for how long. Agree on who will pay maintenance, additional costs and major repairs. Have the right of residence, usufruct or rent back compared with the notary and the bank. Continued use can change the achievable purchase price and the group of buyers.