Which real estate platforms are suitable for private sellers?

Market overview: Where is advertising worthwhile?

The market leaders: Homegate and ImmoScout24

When discussing real estate platforms for private individuals , the market leaders are unavoidable. Homegate and ImmoScout24 (both part of the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group) dominate the market.

• Advantages: They offer by far the greatest reach. Almost everyone who searches has these apps installed. here The ad reaches almost 90% of potential buyers.
• Disadvantages for private individuals: They charge exorbitant prices for this reach. Real estate platforms for private individuals have the highest prices here. A 30-day listing can quickly cost several hundred francs. Furthermore Are you competing directly with professionals? Prepared real estate agent advertisements .
• Conclusion: If you need to sell quickly and have the budget, these are the most powerful real estate platforms for private individuals .

The reputable alternative: Newhome

Newhome has established itself as a major player among real estate platforms for private individuals . The portal belongs to various Cantonal banks and real estate companies .

• The model: Newhome positions itself as "The real estate portal of the cantonal banks". This creates Trust .
• The key advantage for private individuals: Listing a limited number of properties (basic listing) is often free or significantly cheaper than with market leaders. This makes Newhome one of the most attractive real estate platforms for private individuals seeking a professional environment without a large upfront investment. Many buyers appreciate its reliability . this Platform .

The free and agile ones: Urbanhome and Flatfox

Those who want to cut costs completely can find alternatives.

• Urbanhome : This portal advertises that listings are free. It finances itself through advertising and additional services. For real estate platforms for private individuals, this is a strong selling point. Its reach is smaller than Homegate's, but since it's free, it's an ideal complement (" multilisting ").
• Flatfox: Originally focused on the rental market, Flatfox is increasingly opening up to sales. Its strength lies in its digital processing and communication. For tech-savvy sellers, it is one of the most modern real estate platforms for private individuals .

Range vs. Accuracy

When choosing real estate platforms for private individuals, you need to know your target group.

• Luxury segment: A villa for 5 million Swiss francs belongs on international portals or specialized real estate platforms for private individuals in the premium segment, not necessarily on a free site.
• Single-family homes in the countryside: Newhome and Urbanhome often work exceptionally well here , as local buyers specifically use these real estate platforms for private individuals .
• City apartment: Speed is key here. The major portals and Flatfox are often the best real estate platforms for private individuals .

What you need to pay attention to when placing an ad

No matter which of the real estate platforms for private individuals you choose: The listing has to be spot on.

• Photos: Private listings are often recognizable by poor photos (cell phone pictures taken at night). Invest in a photographer. On real estate platforms for private individuals, listings with professional photos receive up to ten times more clicks.
• Transparency: Be honest about defects. Real estate platforms for private individuals thrive on trust. If you discover defects If you conceal it , you are threatened. later legal Aggravation .
• Documents: Upload floor plans and the land registry extract. Good real estate platforms for private individuals offer simple upload functions for this.

The role of aggregators

Meta-search engines like Comparis or Alle-Immobilien.ch aren't real estate platforms for private individuals in the true sense, as you usually can't list your property directly on them. However, they search other portals (Homegate, Newhome , etc.) and aggregate the results. This is beneficial for you: If you list your property on Newhome (one of the more affordable real estate platforms for private individuals ), your house will often automatically appear in Comparis' search results as well. This increases your reach without any additional costs.

Cost-benefit analysis for private sellers

Is the expensive advertisement worth it? Example calculation: You sell for 1 million.

• Real estate agent: 25,000 CHF commission .
• advertisement (Premium): approx. 400 CHF.
• Newhome ad : Free or low cost.
• Photos/documentation: 500 CHF.

Even if you list your property on all private real estate platforms simultaneously and spend 1,000 Swiss francs, you'll still save 24,000 Swiss francs compared to using a real estate agent. Investing in premium placements on private real estate platforms is therefore almost always worthwhile if it leads to a faster sale or a higher price.

Conclusion

The landscape of real estate platforms for private individuals in Switzerland is diverse and offers a solution for every budget. Those who need maximum reach and are willing to pay for it will inevitably encounter Homegate and ImmoScout24 . For savvy shoppers, Newhome often offers the best balance of reliability, reach, and cost (often free for private individuals). Free platforms like Urbanhome should also be used as a supplement .

Success depends not only on choosing the right real estate platform for private sellers , but also on the quality of your presentation. Utilize digital tools, combine multiple portals ( multilisting ), and don't underestimate the power of professional photos. This way, you can become a successful seller even without a real estate agent.

If you are looking for support in valuing your property or need professional data for your sale, Loft offers suitable digital tools for this purpose.

Glossary

• Real estate platforms for private individuals: Online marketplaces that allow private individuals direct access to listings, often under special conditions or free of charge.
• Multilisting : The strategy of listing a property simultaneously on several real estate platforms for private individuals in order to maximize reach.
• Reach: The number of potential buyers who see a listing on a platform. Often the decisive factor for real estate platforms for private individuals. Price factor .
• Aggregator: A search engine (e.g., Comparis) that collects and presents listings from various real estate platforms for private individuals in a bundled format.
• Brokerage fee: The commission a real estate agent receives. Waiving this fee is the main reason for private individuals to use real estate platforms .