Sell Real Estate | BC Living

Frequently Asked Questions

Selling a house on the Gold Coast: How does the process with BC Living work?

We always start with an honest assessment, not a sales pitch. I will inspect your property, analyze recent comparable sales in the community, and tell you what I consider realistic. Not what you want to hear, but what the market dictates. This is the foundation for everything that follows.

Once you commission us, we will create the exposé: professional photography, a text that appeals to the target audience, and all relevant documents fully prepared. Then the property goes to market, on relevant portals, through our unique network, and via the RE/MAX network in Switzerland and internationally.

We coordinate and accompany viewings. Prospective buyers are pre-qualified by us before they enter your home. You will promptly receive feedback from us on what prospective buyers are saying, what appeals to them, and what doesn't. If an offer comes in, we conduct the negotiation. The final decision always rests with you.

Then comes the part many underestimate: coordination up to notarization. Notary, buyer's bank, authorities, preliminary tax clarification. We guide you through this until the very end. A sale is only complete when the purchase price is in your account and the land register entry has been made.

Selling an apartment on the Gold Coast: How does BC Living determine the market value?

Not via an online calculator. Those give you a number, but not an assessment. We do it this way: I personally inspect the property and record all relevant factors: location within the municipality, floor, view, standard of finish, condition, floor plan, parking space, community's renovation fund. After that, I consult current transaction data from the region, comparable properties sold in the last 12 to 18 months, and relate that to your property.

The RE/MAX network gives us an advantage that many local independent agents don't have: We see transaction data from all over Switzerland, not just from one municipality. This sharpens our insight into price trends and provides us with a more solid basis for valuation.

What I can promise you: The figure I give you is the one that accurately reflects the market. Anyone who promises you 20% more just to win the mandate is not doing you any favors. Properties that start too high eventually require a price correction, and that usually costs more than the difference was worth. Furthermore, our market valuations are bank-verified by our partners.

Selling property on the Gold Coast: What does the brokerage cost?

Commission in Switzerland is not legally regulated and is agreed upon individually. The market standard on the Gold Coast is between 2 and 5% of the achieved sale price, plus VAT where applicable.

What this specifically means: For a sale price of CHF 2.5 million, agent fees range from CHF 50,000 to 125,000. That sounds like a lot. And it is. However, a well-managed sales process typically recoups this amount in the final sale price, through better positioning, correct timing, negotiation, and access to a pool of buyers that would never have been reached through a public listing.

At BC Living, our commission is success-based. No sale, no commission. What we provide upfront—valuation, photography, exposé, marketing, viewings—we invest at our own risk. Any additional costs for special services like drone footage or home staging are communicated in writing and agreed upon with you in advance. No surprises on the bill.

Can I also sell my house discreetly on the Gold Coast?

Yes, and this is more often the case on the Gold Coast than elsewhere.

Discreet means: The property is not publicly advertised. No listings on portals, no Instagram posts, no broad advertising. Instead, we specifically approach pre-qualified prospective buyers from our network—people who are actively searching, have verified financing, and the necessary budget.

The RE/MAX network is ideal for this approach. In Switzerland, we have over 200 agents at more than 80 locations, and internationally over 100,000 agents in 110 countries. When I internally communicate that I have a discreet property in Küsnacht, I immediately reach a buyer audience that no outsider ever sees.

Many property owners on the Gold Coast prefer this approach. Sometimes because they don't want strangers in their home before a sale is confirmed. Sometimes because they want to test the market without a public listing. Both are legitimate. We are set up for this.

What documents do I need for selling property in Switzerland?

Ideally, you should have these documents ready before the property goes on the market, not after the first prospective buyer asks.

The land register extract is the most important document. It shows who the owner is, whether there are mortgage certificates on the property, and if any easements or usage restrictions exist. You can order it from the municipal land registry office, or we can obtain it for you. Additionally, floor plans and, if available, building plans are needed. A current energy performance certificate is required for almost every transaction today and is mandatory in some cantons. The building insurance certificate provides the buyer with information about the insured value.

For condominium ownership, two additional documents are often overlooked: the condominium owners' association regulations and the minutes of the last one to two annual meetings. Prospective buyers scrutinize these; they want to know if the community is well-managed and if major renovations are pending. Proof of renovations and investments you've made in recent years, while not mandatory, is valuable. They substantiate claims made in the listing and build buyer confidence.

We help you compile all documents and check them for completeness. A sales dossier that is complete and ready at the first meeting with a prospective buyer signals professionalism and influences how buyers perceive the property.

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Selling property with BC Living

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Frequently Asked Questions