Swiss Property Owners Association
Swiss property brokerage with responsive staff but controversial buyer fee practices.
What customers love
- Highly responsive staff who handle requests quickly
- Virtual tour feature increases serious buyer interest
- Staff go extra mile with patient explanations and translations
Worth noting
- Shifts brokerage fees to buyers, contrary to Swiss market norm
- Capital-driven approach disadvantages buyers already facing affordability pressures
Best for
Sellers seeking responsive service; buyers must accept buyer-paid commissions.
Attribute scores
Recent reviews
The GEV presents itself as an organisation that operates with a distinctly capital‑driven mindset, often to the disadvantage of those who are already struggling to access affordable housing. The reality of the Swiss property market is well‑documented: for young families and average earners, purchasing a home has become increasingly out of reach. Property prices have risen far faster than wages, as confirmed by data from the Federal Statistical Office. On top of that, buyers are frequently expected to purchase additional items such as parking spaces or garage units, further inflating the overall cost. What I find particularly troubling is the GEV’s practice of shifting brokerage fees onto the buyer. In Switzerland, the widely accepted norm is that the seller pays the commission, as they are the party who engages the broker. This principle aligns with the logic of Art. 412 ff. of the Swiss Code of Obligations, which stipulates that the client — in this case, the seller — is responsible for the remuneration. The buyer is not the contracting party and should therefore not be charged. Expecting families, who already face immense financial pressure when trying to secure a home, to additionally cover the seller’s brokerage fees strikes me as both unfair and ethically questionable. The fact that the GEV continues to apply this model sets it apart negatively from standard market practice. For these reasons, we will no longer consider any property listed through the GEV. I strongly encourage other prospective buyers to be aware of these additional costs and to evaluate carefully whether this aligns with their expectations of fair and transparent business conduct.
Very much impressed and satisfied with the process of selling my Apartment in Kanton SO. Mr Burim Ljumanoski is a qualified proffesional and helped me with the apartment sale. Thank You Team!
The service and attention to details went above our expectations. Marvin, who assisted our sale was knowledgable and very profesional. He was very fast to respond to requests from our side and once offers were received, was very fast and helpful to arrange all necessary paper work. Taking advantage of the offer of including a virtual tour of our property (we believe) helped ensure that parties that visited the property were all serious about buying Vs just looking to see what the house looked like. Many thanks for the great service - I can highly recommend Swiss Property Owners Association.
We bought our house under very tight deadlines, and Marvin was truly exceptional throughout the process. He was incredibly responsive, proactive, and always friendly—making a stressful experience so much smoother. We're deeply grateful for his support and highly recommend him! Big thanks Marvin Kägi
Carmen helped us navigate the process to purchase our place and did so with so much patience and professionalism! She often went the extra mile to explain the process to us, translated when we needed it and also allowed us to see the places a few times with family members. Overall the process felt easy and fast because of her! Thank you for helping us find our perfect home!