Commercial property sales: compare quotes and prices

Separate the property from the business

Selling an office, industrial building or commercial property does not automatically include the business occupying it. Machinery, stock, customer contracts and operational arrangements belong in the brief only when expressly agreed and appropriately defined. First identify the assets concerned and the support required.

Selling property and transferring company shares are different transactions. If you want to remain on site after selling, continued use needs a separate arrangement. Such situations need coordinated property, contractual and tax advice; ordinary brokerage does not automatically include every discipline.

Explain the current use and setting

An office has different relevant features from logistics, production or operator-run property. Explain existing use, known areas, layout and important equipment. For mixed property, distinguish the uses rather than treating all square metres as equivalent.

A desired change of use is not a confirmed possibility. Have building conditions, existing rights and necessary enquiries assessed by the appropriate professionals. Known information is enough to begin; the enquiry does not require personal load measurements, environmental testing or permit evidence.

Build dependable sales information

Start with available records and identify gaps. Use, areas, income and condition should be consistent. A structured document room can later make information sharing easier. Define access, confidentiality and responsibility before disclosing sensitive records.

• Property and ownership. Gather available land-registry information, plans and known rights or restrictions.
• Letting. Prepare contracts, agreed rent and known vacancies for later professional review.
• Condition. Identify known work, planned investment and available reports; make uncertainties visible.
• Transaction. Clarify scope, continued use and specialist involvement. Share only necessary agreed business information.

Assess income together with its conditions

For investment property, income needs considering alongside costs and risks. A rent schedule does not replace review of contracts, terms, vacancies and known investment needs. Ask for valuation assumptions to be explained, separating current evidence from expectations.

Existing tenancies remain relevant to the sale. A sale does not guarantee vacant handover. Coordinate viewings with ongoing use and have contractual questions assessed professionally. Avoid publishing unnecessary names or confidential business information in general marketing material.

Clarify questions before commitments

Buyers may want to review documents, condition, income or funding before completion. Agree which investigations are included and who coordinates additional specialists. A documented answer is more useful than blanket assurances that every future use is possible.

Known contaminated-site register entries or other restrictions need professional clarification. Relevant authorities may also need involvement for affected properties. Have the actual procedure and responsibilities assessed; sales advice replaces neither environmental investigation nor an official decision.

Compare fees and additional costs

Compare commission, fixed fees and separate advice for the same tasks. Check calculation basis, payment triggers, VAT and costs if the process is abandoned or unsuccessful. Data preparation, advertising, investigations and specialist advice can be separate charges.

The purchase price is different from net proceeds. Existing finance, tax, fees and other agreed spending also matter. Consequences depend on the property, owner, canton and transaction structure. Have the specific case assessed rather than assuming one tax rate or automatic absence of costs.

Define the appointment and decisions

Identify the properties, tasks, duration and end of the appointment. Clarify exclusivity, your own contacts and additional expenses. For a portfolio, identify its properties and whether they should be sold together or separately.

Agree who releases information and approves price changes or offers. Compare purchase proposals by their conditions and deliverability, not just the highest figure. Open marketing and discreet approaches are different; choose according to use, confidentiality and target audience.

Coordinate the sale process

Clear stages make work transparent without guaranteeing a price or completion date. For a property transfer, the contract draft, payment and legal transfer are coordinated with the appropriate professionals. A different transaction structure needs its own defined process.

1. Define. Identify properties, use, goal and support.
2. Prepare. Review records, pricing strategy and publication scope.
3. Review and negotiate. Coordinate viewings, questions, useful investigations and offer conditions.
4. Complete. Coordinate agreed conditions, payment, legal process and documented handover.