These rules will allow you to
fully understand your needs and priorities, so that when you call an agency, you have clear ideas.
To find out which is your ideal home in Switzerland, we give you in detail the 5 GOLDEN RULES that we recommend to our customers to buy a house:
Rule n ° 1 : Choose the canton, region, city or locality in Switzerland where you want to live
● Do you like the tranquility or prefer the liveliness of the city center, close to all the shops and all the comforts of the city?
● Do you prefer to go to work and live surrounded by plants and trees or do you prefer to be in the center of movement and bustle? If you want to buy a house, this is the first point on which you must have ideas clear on where to look for your new home. Determine your priorities:
● Do you want to live in the city, country or region where you grew up?
● Do you want to live close to your family to benefit from the support of your loved ones?
● Do you like the city with all amenities close at hand or do you prefer to live in the countryside?
● Is your priority to live near your work?
● Are you ready to move your children from one city, country or region to another?
It is essential to ask yourself these questions, which will save you a significant waste of time in researching and comparing houses in unsuitable locations for your family and their needs.
Rule n ° 2: Focus on your needs
Think of the space you will need if you share your house with another person, if you have or want to have children with play areas, a dressing room for your clothes, a garage for your cars, a garden for your pets, etc.
Then convert all these needs into square meters. Thus, when the real estate agent asks you what your main criteria are, you can answer him very precisely. Make it clear to him what you want so that you don't go around in circles and waste time unnecessarily.
When looking for a home, always start by listing your basic needs and ''non-negotiable'' criteria before you start visiting.
Rule n ° 3: A new, recent, renovated or refurbished house?
Of course, before buying a house, you must imperatively know its year of construction.
This involvesassess their general condition with the help of qualified technicians.
Is this a new or recent construction? Are renovations, repairs or additional installations required? Are there any moisture or mold issues?
Don't worry: sometimes it can be advantageous to buy at a low price to then renovate and thus benefit from tax subsidies. In particular for upgrading to environmental energy standards, for example by replacing an oil boiler with a heat pump, installing solar panels or a water recovery tank, etc.
Also analyze the environment and the neighborhood in which the property you are looking for is located and pay attention to any co-ownership expenses, parking space, etc.
Obviously, if you are looking for an apartment to renovate in Switzerland, you can often benefit from a larger surface area than recently built apartments. But you must also be aware that this type of property is generally located in buildings built in the 70s and 80s... The facade of the building must also please you and this is an additional criterion.
This is why it is important to define in advance which criterion is the most important: buy cheaper and renovate in a building that is sometimes dilapidated? Or invest in a new construction, more expensive with less square meters?
Rule n ° 4: Find out before buying a condominium in Switzerland
Many future buyers do not have a precise idea on this point.
Set in advance the maximum number of neighbors you want to have. If your priority is independence and the absence of vis-à-vis, focus your research on buildings with few apartments.
Our best advice if you buy a house in a condominium? Before moving on to the purchase phase, check the tranquility of the condominium before making a purchase proposal. Put yourself in a situation and walk around the neighborhood or condominium for a day to see what life is like there.
Rule n ° 5: Mortgage loan for the purchase of a house in Switzerland: establish your budget taking into account unforeseen expenses
If you are considering taking out a mortgage to buy your home, request offers before you start looking for the property of your dreams.
You have to be patient and start by turning to as many banks as possible to see where you can benefit from the best conditions.