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Houzy's property valuation is produced in collaboration with Fahrländer Partner Raumentwicklung. FPRE is a specialist in data analysis and can thus produce a unique, comprehensive property valuation from thousands of data sources from comparable properties. The data you request is sufficient to provide you with an initial estimate and thus a point of reference. In order to accurately assess the value of a property, a complex valuation procedure and an expert on site are required. This is the only way an estate agent can take into account all the value-enhancing criteria and produce a qualified valuation. However, such extensive valuations also mean more effort and take more time and sometimes cost a lot of money.

We estimate market values using hedonic estimation. This is a statistical comparative value method and takes into account all transaction prices of comparable houses or flats in the region. The computer model divides a property into quality characteristics so that it can be compared with other properties and uses multiple regression analysis to calculate how strongly the quality characteristics influence the price of a property. Regression analysis is a statistical procedure with which a dependent variable, for example the market value of a property, is explained by one or more independent variables, for example the location and property-specific criteria of the property. The result of this statistical comparative value procedure is a well-founded market value estimate that is real and objective for standard properties such as single-family houses, condominiums or apartment buildings.

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Houzy's digital property valuation analyses the value of your residential property with just a few details - completely free of charge and without obligation. The analysis is based on initial relevant criteria such as the plot and living space or the estimated condition of the house and thus serves as a first point of reference. The property valuation is carried out in 5 simple steps in under 5 minutes and provides you with an independent, neutral estimate of the property value. Ongoing added value is also provided by the automatically analysed changes in market value, which you can view quarterly in your account. Our qualified realtor partners, such as Engel und Völkers, are also available to you free of charge for an on-site analysis after the property valuation, if required.

A property valuation is significant for both home buyers and home sellers. Many owners do not have a clear idea of the market value of their property before selling it. The self-assessed property value is often based on the market value at the time or the emotional value of the property. Accordingly, home buyers are often uncertain about the actual value of the property due to a lack of transparency. The market value of a property changes depending on the economic situation and is dependent on supply and demand. Therefore, comprehensive knowledge of the regional real estate market is indispensable for an accurate valuation of the property. As a seller, you can only achieve a realistic price on the property market if you know the actual, data-based value of your property. A price that is set too high will scare off potential buyers, while a sales price that is too low can lead to a large loss of assets. With a data-based property valuation, these mistakes can be avoided and the property can be sold quickly and satisfactorily. Accordingly, a data-based property valuation also helps home buyers to obtain the necessary certainty about the price of the desired property and to make informed decisions in the purchase process. You can also read our article "Hedonic Valuation: See How We Rate the Market Value of Properties" in the Houzy Magazine.

You can take out a mortgage up to 18 months in advance. If you regularly check the interest rate forecast and extend your loan at the right time, you can get a good interest rate. Pay attention to the terms and notice periods or the repossession conditions of the mortgage you want to extend. If you've split the mortgage into multiple installments, you should make sure that the overall funding still matches your risk profile (stable, balanced, or market-oriented) when you extend a tranche.

Before extending the mortgage, you should ask yourself if there is something fundamental that might change in your life in the near future:

• Do you want to start a family?
• Do you want to start your own business?
• Do you want to plan your estate with foresight?
• Do you want or need to pay off a mortgage?
• Are you planning any renovations, improvements or alterations?
• Do you need a higher mortgage for these measures?

Do you want to pay off a mortgage, i.e. pay it off at maturity or take out a mortgage with another provider? In this case, you need to know the terms of the mortgage you want to redeem. Although it usually comes at a cost, an early redemption can sometimes be a good idea because you can get a better mortgage.

An average single-family home consumes 4,000 to 5,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. A photovoltaic system would have to generate 8 to 10 kilowatt peak for this electricity consumption. Such systems cost around CHF 20,000 for modules, controls, inverters and installation. In return, you receive a one-off subsidy of 4,000 to 5,000 francs and save taxes thanks to the investment. These are only approximate values. You can use the Houzy solar calculator to calculate the solar potential, costs and subsidies.

From an ecological point of view, the answer to this question is always "yes". From an economic point of view, the answer depends on the acquisition and operating costs, subsidies, local electricity prices, the local feed-in tariff and self-consumption. Photovoltaic systems combined with a high level of self-consumption often pay for themselves after 15 to 20 years. The solar calculator from Houzy calculates the amortization period and shows you neutrally whether the investment is worthwhile.

Solar radiation, roof orientation, roof pitch, shading and roof size determine how suitable your roof is for a photovoltaic system. With the solar calculator from Houzy, you can find out in two minutes whether a solar system is worthwhile. You can also calculate all the costs, subsidies and tax savings and find out how quickly the investment will pay for itself.

The digital solar calculator from Houzy analyses the solar potential as well as the costs of a photovoltaic system with just a few entries - completely free of charge and without obligation. The analysis is based on all relevant criteria of a solar analysis and shows you the investment costs, operating costs, subsidies, tax savings, feed-in tariffs, etc. in detail. In just 2 minutes and after a few clicks, the solar calculator is ready and you can see all the relevant information about the photovoltaic system in an overview. The results are completely neutral - Houzy is an independent platform and does not pursue any third-party interests. 

To find out whether your house is suitable for a photovoltaic system, we need the address. This allows us to obtain relevant information from publicly accessible databases and directories, such as the geographical location, roof area or roof orientation. Some key data about the house and your energy requirements help us to fine-tune the calculations. Afterwards, you will immediately receive online access to your digital solar analysis on Houzy by email.

Houzy is a start-up and finances itself by brokering third-party services and through advertising partnerships with national and regional partners. However, you as a user always decide for yourself when you want to share which data with whom, and thus always retain data sovereignty. The use of our solar calculator and the entire homeowner platform is permanently free of charge for you. However, if required, you can request free quotes for the installation of a photovoltaic system from one of our recommended tradesmen in your region.

The federal government, cantons and individual municipalities provide financial support for energy-efficient renovations. The Energy Calculator of Houzy shows all subsidies when you simulate energetic measures and their effects. On dasgebaeudeprogramm.ch you will find an overview of the subsidy measures in your canton, and on energiefranken.ch you can use the locality or zip code to query all the subsidy programs available to you.

The Houzy Energy Calculator takes into account the building standard and renovations, just like the GEAK® building energy certificate of the cantons. In this way, we define the actual state of a building and derive from it the renovation potential of the building envelope, the systems engineering and all electrical installations. For our analysis of the actual state, we also take into account the heating and electricity profile as well as the hot water distribution.

That depends on the measures. With our energy calculator and renovation calculator, you can estimate the approximate investment costs. The energy calculator also shows how much subsidies you will receive. The investment costs are comparatively high, and the annual savings seem low at first glance. Nevertheless, an energetic renovation is worthwhile. On the one hand, because a large part of the costs would be incurred sooner or later anyway, for example for a new heating system. On the other hand, because the prices for oil and gas will increase significantly in the next few years due to rising taxes and incentive taxes.

Energy-efficient renovations are measures that reduce energy consumption, for example with better thermal insulation or new windows, or replace fossil fuels such as gas or oil with renewable energies such as self-produced solar power. Because individual measures influence each other and should therefore be coordinated, a careful planning pays off. This includes a comprehensive analysis of the current situation by experts.

It makes sense to start with the insulation so that the heat from the new heating system is not lost through the uninsulated walls or roof. Besides, a smaller heater will be then sufficient, which will cost less and consume less if you insulate the walls first. It is best to consult an expert from the Houzy network, who will plan and execute the renovation for you step by step.

All energy-related renovation measures make sense. Which ones are suitable for your house depends on many factors. Most heat is lost through the building envelope, which is why better thermal insulation often makes sense. But you can also save money in the long term, preserve resources and protect the environment with a new heating system or a solar power system on the roof. With our energy calculator, you can easily simulate the effects of the measures and find out which ones make sense for you. Then you can ask an expert from our network for a free quote and plan the energy renovation step by step with him.

In principle, it is always useful to know what advantages and disadvantages the various heating systems have. Especially shortly before the end of the life expectancy of your current heating system, it is relevant to know which heating system makes sense for your needs and your property. Since a heating system can fail at any time, it is especially important towards the end of the expected life of a heating system to know which heating system you will install afterwards. This will prepare you for a possible change of heating system. Especially before the winter starts, you should find out which heating system suits your needs. In addition, there is another important occasion when you should consider the heating system and possible replacement: Before buying a house or flat. If you are planning to buy a house or a flat, you should definitely analyse the heating system in terms of remaining lifetime, running costs, CO2 emissions and successor heating system.

When you replace a heating system, the first thing you have to pay for is investment costs. The existing heating system must be replaced. The new heating system is installed, which means that in addition to the costs for the heating system, there are also corresponding installation costs. The heating calculator calculates the running costs for you - divided into maintenance costs and energy costs. In the case of running costs, the energy costs in particular vary greatly between heating systems. However, the energy costs also depend on your individual energy requirements. In addition to the costs, we also include the subsidies from the relevant canton.

The heating comparison considers the heating systems that are most widespread in Switzerland. The following heating systems are included in the comparison calculator: gas heating, oil heating, heat pump air, heat pump earth, district heating and wood. Electric heating is not included. Electric heating is still widespread in Switzerland, but it is a very uneconomical heating system. Moreover, the installation of new electric heating systems has been prohibited in all cantons since 2008.

The Houzy Plant Guide is a web-based app. This means that the Houzy Plant Guide can recognise plants and give you care tips about plants - just like any other app. However, you cannot currently download the plant manager from the App Store or the Google Play Store.

The plant recognition algorithm of the Plant guide analyses the shape of the plant or individual components such as the plant flower or a plant leaf. The photo of the plant for recognition is then matched with a huge database of over 40,000 plants and even more plant images. If the photographed plant is in the database, it is identified and you can add it to your personal plant overview.

The way to plant identification is easy with Houzy plant guide. You can simply take a photo of a plant directly with your mobile phone or upload an existing image. Based on the photo, our algorithm searches for the corresponding plant and recognises it with a high probability.

Banks, pension funds and insurance companies look at two criteria for mortgages: Loan-to-value and affordability. Firstly, they lend up to 80 percent of the purchase price or market value on residential property, which means you need at least 20% equity capital. Secondly, the housing costs (mortgage interest, ancillary costs and amortisation) may not exceed 35 percent of gross income. You can calculate the loan-to-value ratio and affordability with our calculator. You can finance your house or apartment with a fixed mortgage with a fixed term and fixed interest rate or with a money market mortgage (SARON). With our Mortgage Comparison you can compare interest rates and terms and combine the best offers. If you cannot yet afford to buy a home, the innovative hire-purchase model may be an alternative for you.

In the Houzy magazine you will find numerous articles on financing.

Define your search criteria. For example, you can search by town or region, property type, price range or number of rooms and filter the results by year of construction, living space, plot area or availability. If you define too many or specific criteria, the search may return few hits. It may be worthwhile to divide the search criteria into important and less important. You can find tips for the property search in our articles «Online Property Search: How to Find Your Dream Home». If you are unsure whether to look for a house or an appartment, read our article «Buy a House or a Flat: Which Suits Me Better?».

The first viewing is about questions such as "Do you feel comfortable?", "Does the floor plan fit?", "Are the rooms big enough?", "Do you like the finish?" or "Do you want to live here?". Only at the second viewing do you check the substance and condition: exterior and interior walls, windows, doors, electrical installations, building services, house connections, water and sewage pipes, heating, hot water system, insulation, kitchen, bathroom and guest WC. With our «Checklist: How to prepare for a house inspection», no point will be forgotten. If you are a layperson, let a professional accompany you.

When buying real estate, you have to think of many things, from the clarification of needs to the entry in the land register. Moreover, buying a home is one of the most important decisions in your life with far-reaching consequences, not only financially. That's why you should take enough time for it. In our guidebook «12 Steps to Your Dream House or Flat» we have divided the buying process into sections and explain in an easy-to-understand way what you should pay attention to at each step.

The more criteria you define for the macro location (place or region), the micro location (surroundings) and the object, the fewer search results you will get. Search with criteria that are really important to you (must have). In Houzy Magazine you will find tips on what to do if you are missing important information about the property. Take a closer look at the property ads when you find a property that meets your search criteria. Especially if you are interested in an old building.

Data protection and data security are our top priority. That's why we leave nothing to chance. To ensure the protection of your personal data and secure data transmission, we work with state-of-the-art security technology. Your data is stored in encrypted form in a data center that is certified to all current industry standards. Data is only passed on to third parties if you request services via Houzy that require this. An example of this is actively contacting one of our broker partners. Further information can be found in our general terms and conditions under "Our privacy policy".

In order to determine demand, we need basic information such as address, year of construction and type of house, information on the standard of fittings and renovations. Based on this information, we determine the demand and simulate the demand behaviour for three prices.

If the demand check shows no demand, it does not mean that there is no demand. We evaluate the real-time data of the largest real estate platforms, which cover 90 percent of the Swiss real estate market. If there is no demand or little demand, it may make sense to contact an estate agent. Read our article "Selling a house: sell it yourself or hire an estate agent".

Houzy is a start-up and finances itself by brokering third-party services and through advertising partnerships with national and regional partners. However, you as a user always decide for yourself when you want to share which data with whom, and thus always retain data sovereignty. The use of our demand check and the entire Houzy platform is permanently free of charge for you.

We have determined the average costs of the sale price-increasing measures in discussions with professional craftsmen from our network. The result is an estimate so that you can compare the costs with the possible additional proceeds and decide whether the measures are worthwhile.

We estimate the market value of real estate according to hedonic valuation. This means that we analyse the sale prices for comparable properties in the same region and estimate the market value of a house or flat on this basis. For the possible sales price after the sales price-increasing measures, we have spoken to real estate professionals from the Houzy network. Their experience and figures have been incorporated into our simulation and calculations.

Enter the purchase price of the property, your annual gross income (payment from employer, without deductions such as taxes or social security contributions) and available equity in the corresponding fields and you will immediately receive a result. The affordability calculator provides an initial estimate of affordability, but does not replace a comprehensive analysis in a consultation.

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The own funds are the equity capital, which is used for the purchase of a property. The own funds should be at least 20% of the real estate price. The higher the own funds, the better (lower) the loan-to-value ratio. Own funds include own cash, gifts (e.g. from relatives) as well as pre-drawn pension fund funds (however, the latter is only possible if at least 10% of the purchase price is available as effective cash).

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Affordability is expressed as a percentage and represents the ratio between income and the cost of the property. A maximum of one-third of income should be spent annually on housing costs.

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The interest to be paid can be reduced by bringing more savings and thus a smaller mortgage can be taken out. The calculation can also work out with the consideration of a second income (if you buy the property with your partner).

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With the affordability calculator, you can calculate whether you can afford your dream property with your existing own funds and your annual income.

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It is deferred if you buy a replacement property in Switzerland with the proceeds of the sale. Deferral is granted for owner-occupied residential property if the purchase price for the replacement property is higher than the investment costs for the property sold. The tax is also deferred in the case of changes of ownership due to inheritance, advance withdrawal or gift and changes of ownership between spouses due to changes in matrimonial property law, separation or divorce. You can find out more in our article «Real Estate Gains Tax: What Sellers and Buyers Should Know».

The amount depends on the net profit, the holding period and the location. Real estate gains are taxed differently in the cantons. Some calculate the tax proportionally, others progressively. Almost all cantons grant a discount for a long holding period and charge a surcharge for a short holding period. The differences are great: a property gain of CHF 500,000 is taxed about 5.4 times more in St. Gallen after ten years than in Sarnen in the canton of Obwalden. Read more in our article «Real Estate Gains Tax: What Sellers and Buyers Should Know».

A lot of money is at stake. A gain of CHF 500,000, for example, is taxed at CHF 162,000 in the canton of St. Gallen after ten years of holding, and at CHF 30,000 in Sarnen in the canton of Obwalden. With the real estate gains tax calculator from Houzy, you can conveniently calculate the tax for real estate gains on your property online (basis: tax rate for single taxpayers and owner-occupied property - possible for every canton). This way you know how much you owe the tax office after the sale. Find out more in our article «Real Estate Gains Tax: What Sellers and Buyers Should Know».

Real estate gains tax is due immediately. In the best case, directly after the sale and before the keys are handed over. Unless you buy a replacement property in Switzerland with the proceeds of the sale. Then you can postpone the payment of the real estate gains tax for one to two years, in exceptional cases even for up to four years.