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Sales dossier for a house sale
The perfect sales dossier for your property
A professional sales dossier is essential for a successful house sale.
Content:
Content:
- A sales dossier contains all the relevant details about the property.
- Part of the documentation will be general information about the property, as well as further details that highlight its advantages.
- The promotional section contains sales arguments, while the administrative section summarizes administrative information.
- In the event of a sale, an existing mortgage can be prematurely terminated, transferred to the buyer or to the new property.
- To the conclusion
Selling a property can be a complex and time-consuming task – a good sales dossier is key to making this process as smooth as possible. In the following article, we explain why a carefully prepared sales dossier is essential and which elements it must include.
When selling a property, first impressions are critical. The sales dossier plays a decisive role here. It is a central document that contains all relevant information about the property, so potential buyers can make an informed decision. It will include details such as the property’s location, amenities and layout. A particular focus is on the visual presentation of the object, for example through professional photos, to attract the interest of potential buyers.
A good sales dossier can encourage interested parties to take further steps, such as arranging viewing appointments or making offers. As a rule, the more appealing the dossier, the higher the interest of potential buyers.
For a sales dossier to be comprehensive, in addition to professional photos, the following information is essential.
- A compelling, informative title
- A detailed description of the property with information on its features, floor/level, number of rooms, living area, plot area, year of construction, garage/parking spaces
- Real estate valuation
- Mention of special features (for example, a large terrace, a sauna, or a walk-in closet)
- Proof of completed renovation work or extensions
- Sales price and conditions
- Value-relevant factors such as heating and ancillary costs
- Earliest possible move-in or handover date
- Contact details of the seller
- Appealing and high-quality photos of the property
- Information about the municipality (population, municipal tax rate, population development, etc.)
- Description of the building fabric and interior fittings (floors, walls, ceilings, windows, etc.)
- Details about the heating system
- Technical details, e.g., about air conditioning
- Cadastral map
- Construction plans
- Floor plans of all stories
- Site plan (situation plan) indicating location of schools, shopping centers, bus stops
- Imputed rental value / tax value
- Proof of building insurance
- Extract from land register
- Building Energy Certificate of the Cantons (GEAK), which provides information about the energy efficiency of the property as well as other certificates (if available)
The sales dossier is typically divided into a promotional section and an administrative section. Below we explain which information should be mentioned and where.
Promotional section
The promotional section is designed to appeal to potential buyers, which is why it mainly contains sales-promoting information.
A short title emphasizes the property’s advantages. Professional photos of the property as well as a product data sheet with details such as type, year of construction and number of rooms are also an integral part. This part of the dossier should also include information about the price, floor plans, move-in dates and contact details.
Administrative section
The sales documentation also includes administrative information. The administration section usually contains various legal documents as well as information relevant to the sales process.
This includes documents such as a cantonal energy certificate for buildings (GEAK), which provides information about the energy consumption and energy efficiency of the property, as well as a land register excerpt, which shows the ownership structure of the property. This part of the sales dossier also contains all the information that needs to be presented to a bank in order to apply for a mortgage, if required.
What additional documents do you need for other types of sale?
What additional documents do you need for other types of sale?
Specific requirements apply to the sales documentation for other types of sale, such as land, condominium ownership and investment properties. Remember to include the following documents in the dossier:
Plot of land
Clarify in advance what type of land it is – for example, forest/meadow, greenfield site, land designated for future development, or construction land. When selling a property, it is important the ownership details are clearly presented in the sales dossier using the land registry extract and including relevant information about land use, development plans and possible restrictions.
Building permits, soil surveys and environmental assessments should also be present. If your property is subject to certain conditions, such as monument protection regulations, these must also be listed. Consider which target group you want to address with your sales documentation.
Condominiums
When selling a condominium, that is, your co-ownership of the entire property, you should, in addition to the usual documents such as the purchase contract, also include a current land register extract, the foundation agreement as well as the usage and management regulations. The building insurance policy also belongs in the sales documentation for your condominium. Equally important are the zoning plan, the calculation of living space and the floor plans of the property. Evidence of operating and other costs related to co-ownership, such as maintenance and modernization measures or other investments, should also be included, as should the minutes of the homeowners’ meetings.
Investment properties
For investment properties, certain other documents are also important in addition to the usual sales documents. These include the tenant index, which provides an overview of the current tenants, their move-in dates and rental prices. Rental contracts should also include current terms and payments, information about rental income and vacancy rates, as well as statements of operating costs. Documents regarding the condition and maintenance of the property, including renovation and repair history, are also essential.
The sale of your property directly affects your existing mortgage. You have various options as to what to do with it.
Early redemption
One option is early redemption of the existing mortgage. This means terminating the mortgage contract early and repaying the entire outstanding amount. If you decide to sell your property, your bank is legally obligated to release you from the financing early. You are then no longer bound to your mortgage contract until the agreed term has expired. Note, however, that in this case you will be charged an early repayment fee, i.e., a penalty. The amount of this penalty is not uniformly regulated by law and can be up to 10 percent of the outstanding debt.
Transfer to the buyer
If potential buyers are interested in taking over your existing mortgage, they can submit an application to your lender to do so. If it is accepted by the bank, the buyer can take on the existing mortgage.
Transfer to the new property
Another option is to transfer the mortgage to a new property if you wish to purchase a new property after the sale. This requires the consent of the lender. To enable this to happen, your financial situation should not have changed significantly, and the sale of the old property and the purchase of the new one should take place promptly.
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- You decide on how you would like to receive expert advice - whether by video call from home or in one of our branches
A carefully prepared and comprehensive sales dossier is crucial for a successful real estate sale. It lays the foundation for the entire sales process and ultimately helps to maximize the sale price of your property.
Bear in mind that creating a dossier requires time, expertise and financial resources, especially if you need to hire a photographer for professional photos. Hiring an expert can significantly reduce the amount of work involved. You should, however, always carefully check the finished product.
If you have any further questions about sales dossiers, our experts will be happy to assist you.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
