Yes. The detailed hedonic valuations take around 40 data points into account, including condition, standard of finish, and level of maintenance. A house with a backlog of maintenance is valued lower than a comparable renovated property. Furthermore, local real estate agents know the market: they know what kind of discount buyers expect for unrenovated properties and whether there are any project developers interested in the land.

Yes. Bestag has offices in Zurich, Bern, and Préverenges (VD) and can be reached via regional phone numbers covering St. Gallen, Lucerne, Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Geneva, Vaud, Valais, and Chur. The website is available in German, French, and English.

A good real estate agent handles price negotiations on your behalf, meaning you have no direct contact with the buyer and cannot be pressured. The agent must always consult with you and cannot make decisions independently, ensuring you remain in control. What makes the Bestag model unique is that our bonus-malus system gives the agent a genuine financial incentive to negotiate hard for you. Every additional franc they secure above the estimated value increases their commission. Furthermore, Bestag remains involved as a supervisory body. If the agent suddenly claims the price needs to be lowered, you can check with Bestag to verify whether that is accurate or if the agent is simply looking for a quick sale.

For luxury or niche properties, the pool of potential buyers is very small, marketing often takes over twelve months, and expectations are high. The hedonic valuation model reaches its limits here. Nevertheless, identifying the right agent through Bestag’s algorithm—who has successfully marketed luxury properties in your region—is particularly valuable in these cases. It is best to clarify the details in a personal consultation with Bestag.

That is an understandable reaction. Bestag is not a company that runs TV commercials, but it is well-established in the Swiss real estate industry. The company was founded by Patrice Choffat and is headquartered in Zurich, with additional offices in Bern and Préverenges. Bestag has been featured in numerous Swiss media outlets, including Le Temps, RTS, Bilan, 24 heures, Swissquote, AGEFI, CNN Money Switzerland, and Immoday. The foreword to the Bestag book was written by Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter, head of the Real Estate Management department at the ZHAW. On Google, Bestag has a rating of 4.9 out of 5.0—these reviews are publicly viewable. Bestag has already facilitated several hundred property sales. Furthermore, professional market participants such as lawyers and trustees recommend our services. You can verify all of this yourself—you don't have to take Bestag's word for any of it.

Selling your property yourself can make sense, but only under very specific conditions. Specifically: you are selling a condominium in a development where several identical units have recently been sold, and you know the exact price per square meter achieved. In all other cases—single-family homes, unique properties, or locations with few comparable transactions—you simply lack the market knowledge as a private individual to set the right price. If you set it too high, your property will "burn out." If you set it too low, you will give away six-figure sums without even realizing it. Even after deducting the commission, almost all sellers fare better with a professional real estate agent than they do on their own. Even if you are selling yourself, you can use the Bestag valuation to at least get a well-founded estimate of your property's market value.

Yes. The fundamental problem is that all owners listed in the land register have a right of veto. One person wants a quick sale, another wants to keep the property in the family, and a third thinks the price is too low. This leads to stalemates and disputes—sometimes lasting for years. Bestag provides a neutral foundation for this: our five valuations create clarity regarding the actual market value. No heir can claim the house is worth significantly more or less when five independent sources point in a similar direction. The book also recommends the right of first refusal model: the property is offered on the market, and any family member can acquire it by matching the highest third-party bid. In practice, not a single family member has exercised this right of first refusal in all these years. Without a discount on the market value, it simply isn't worth it for most people.

Yes, both. If you are unhappy with your current agent, you can terminate a brokerage contract at any time in accordance with Article 404 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. You are never permanently tied to an agent, regardless of what the contract states. If your property is already "burned"—meaning it has been listed on a portal for too long and may have undergone price reductions—the book clearly advises taking the property off the market temporarily, pausing marketing efforts, and then starting fresh with a new, reputable agent and a realistic asking price. This is exactly where Bestag comes in: Bestag finds the right new agent for your property and uses our bonus-malus system to ensure that the starting price is set realistically this time.