Sell your property in Zurich and Switzerland, discreetly.

The Offlist buyer network is closed and verified. It is made up mainly of three groups, and each approaches a purchase differently.

In Zurich, off-market sales range from condominium apartments (Stockwerkeigentum) in Seefeld, Enge or Hottingen to family houses on the lake shores and in the surrounding communes. The same process applies in Zug, Lucerne, Basel, the Lake Geneva region and Ticino.

Before any introduction we look at what a serious buyer will ask about: the land register extract, the condominium regulations and renovation fund for an apartment, any existing tenancy, and open questions your tax advisor should clarify, such as the cantonal property gains tax. Where a buyer lives abroad, eligibility under the Lex Koller rules on purchases by persons abroad is checked first, so you do not lose time with someone who cannot complete.

Classic Swiss estate agents typically charge around 2–3% of the sale price plus VAT, depending on the canton, the price bracket and the scope of the mandate. That is the general market range, not a fixed rule, and for high-value properties the percentage is often negotiated lower.

Offlist charges no upfront listing fees, and the private match assessment is free. What you pay depends on the service level you choose: a direct introduction of a buyer, co-brokerage alongside your existing broker, or a full exclusive mandate covering valuation, documentation, negotiation and the notary appointment. The exact fee is confirmed in writing before you sign anything, and if you decide not to go ahead after the assessment, you owe nothing.

Discretion is the service, not a feature. Your address, photos and asking price are never published on Offlist, on property portals or in search engines. A matched buyer first sees an anonymised summary; the full dossier follows only once you have approved that specific person.

Your data and the buyers' data are processed in line with the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (nDSG). Where you wish, buyers sign a confidentiality agreement before they receive the address or documents. You can withdraw your property and ask us to delete your data at any time.

There is no honest standard figure. Timing depends on the price, the location, the type of property and how many buyers in the network match it. When a suitable buyer is already searching, introductions can start within days of the first call. When the pool is narrower, the property is shown quietly to new verified buyers as they join, rather than being discounted in public.

The final phase follows the usual Swiss sequence: reservation or letter of intent, confirmation of financing, drafting of the purchase contract, notarisation and entry in the land register. We coordinate the dates with you, the buyer and the notary.

A public listing maximises reach, but reach is not the same as qualified demand. It puts interior photos and often the address in front of anyone, and a property that stays on a portal for months invites price discussions. Off-market, you show the property only to people who have both the means and the intention to buy.

An off-market sale is also reversible. If the private route does not produce the right offer, you can still list publicly later, and because nothing was published there is no visible price history working against you. Many owners use Offlist exactly this way: test the private market first, then decide.