THE PROPERTY SECTOR IS UNDERGOING A DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN SWITZERLAND

EVOLUTION - In an era that is conducive to the digitalisation of businesses, the property sector is no exception. Apps, virtual viewings, property valuations – connected tools are becoming increasingly widespread

Digitalisation has become a priority for estate agents.

“Digitalisation is fundamentally transforming property marketing and management, whilst revolutionising the property sector in virtually every area.”

For Martin Waeber, director of the Immoscout24 portal, the digital revolution is inevitable.

He adds: “From documenting the property to handing it over, via the signing of the tenancy or purchase agreement, the entire process of marketing, letting and selling is already highly digitised.”

All estate agents are currently experiencing this new reality. Recently, Cardis Immobilier Sotheby’s International Realty made a big splash by launching its ‘Prospect’Immo’ app. Its aim is to offer anyone the chance to become an estate agent by passing on information about a building plot or a property for sale. A financial reward of up to 2,000 francs per transaction helps to motivate budding estate agents.

The digitalisation of major property groups also involves the increasingly frequent use of virtual tours based on augmented reality. Thanks to floor-by-floor modelling and a 360° view, visitors can get a feel for their future home by exploring it virtually in great detail. Based on a site plan, it is thus possible to visualise the spatial layout of future buildings in a near-real simulation to explore their architecture and volumes.

Digital mortgage

While estate agents are very active in their digitalisation process, their banking partners are not to be outdone. In the spring of this year, for instance, Coop Bank launched the first fully digital mortgage product. The online mortgage ‘digihyp’ is aimed at new customers residing in Switzerland who do not require in-depth advice when taking over a maturing mortgage. As part of its digital strategy, the bank aims to open a virtual branch by the end of this year. The benefits for homeowners, apart from 24-hour availability, include mortgage rates 0.3% below the standard rate.

Source: lausannecites.ch