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A discreet sale without a public listing can be important for certain sellers—such as in cases of divorce, high-profile owners, or in small communities where neighbors should not be informed. While the Bestag model is based on public marketing via portals, experienced agents maintain lists of interested buyers and can also place properties discreetly. Whether this makes sense for your property is best discussed directly with Bestag, as a discreet sale reduces the number of potential buyers and can therefore lower the achievable price. This is a conscious trade-off.

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.

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.

The algorithm is agnostic—it evaluates agents based on performance, not company size. If a large chain agency in your area achieves the best results for your property type, it will be recommended. The same applies to a local one-person office if their sales performance is superior. What matters are the 15 criteria, not the name.

And that is precisely when achieving the best possible sale price becomes so important. In Switzerland, many homeowners only amortize their second mortgage, which often means that properties still carry significant debt when they are sold. You are left with only the difference between the sale price and the mortgage. With a sale price of 1.22 million instead of 1 million—assuming a mortgage of 720,000—that is the difference between 500,000 and 280,000 francs in freely available equity. Small differences in the sale price create huge fluctuations in what you actually take home.

There are four classic scenarios—inheritance, divorce, starting a family, and downsizing—and in each, the book analyzes the tax and financial consequences of renting versus selling. The core message: rental income must be taxed as earnings. On top of that, there are management costs, maintenance reserves, and the risks associated with climate protection regulations. Capital gains tax on a sale, by contrast, is often more favorable—and can even be waived entirely if the proceeds are reinvested in a primary residence. Bestag can advise you during this initial consultation and help you make your decision based on facts rather than gut feeling.

Bestag works best for properties that can be valued using a hedonic approach—namely condominiums, single-family homes, and multi-family dwellings. The hedonic valuation model compares your property with the actual sale prices of similar properties, which requires a sufficient amount of comparative data. For specialized properties—such as farms, alpine huts, rustic retreats, or properties with significant land development potential—the hedonic method is limited or entirely inapplicable due to a lack of comparable transactions. In such cases, the expertise of locally established real estate agents becomes all the more important, and this is precisely what Bestag identifies algorithmically.

Bestag is particularly valuable in divorce cases. The typical problem: in a divorce, the partner who wants to keep the property has an interest in a low market value to minimize the equalization payment, while the other wants a high market value. Both parties hire "their own" experts, who then provide estimates that suit their respective clients. The difference is often a six-figure sum. Bestag solves this problem: five independent valuations—two hedonic models plus three broker estimates—provide a reliable range that both parties can rely on. Neither side has to rely on a single "favorable" appraisal. There is also a solution involving a right of first refusal: the property is offered on the market, and whoever wants to keep it can take it over at the highest third-party bid. For the first time since the separation began, both parties have a common interest: the highest possible price.