Hi can anyone help, I am in the process of buying an apartment in a complex at Leukerbad, Switzerland. The owner of the complex who is selling the apartment gave me various papers (procuration etc) to sign, explaining that the whole purchase/sale process is very simple out there, and that a local notary would take care of the whole transaction. I am just a little concerned that I know nothing of the legal requirements out there and am relying completely on the "helpful" owners word...does anyone know of someone (eg a lawyer in the UK or Switzerland) with Swiss property/legal knowledge, I feel I should consult someone given the scale of the investment there. Thanks loads! Sharadb
firstly, take a look at my website "www.laforet35.com" and the link at the bottom of the page to my `Guide to Buying in Switzerland'. FYI I'm not an agency or business.
I can recommend a Notaire in Martigny who acted for us when we bought our apartment in La Tzoumaz, across/down the valley from you. They were Ribordy & Wenger and M.Xavier Wenger speaks English. Legal cost was 2.5% of the sale price.
thanks so much...I am not sure whether it is a notary I need as I understand that I am already using a "notary", this has been provided by the seller and I have already transferred 10% of the purchase price to them under the agreement. I have also signed a power of attorney enabling them to conclude the sale on my behalf. Their charge is 2.5% of the purchas price, however since I have no visibility of what is going on (and have never spoken to the notary concerned), I thought it would be advisable for me to get in touch with a legal specialist in Swiss property matters to ensure that things are happening the way they should? does this make sense, and would you still advise using another notary (though this may double the costs?). best wishes sharadb
My understanding is that it would not be logical to employ another notary as the process involves only one. That is, the Notaire is independent of both buyer and seller with, if anything, a bias towards ensuring the seller's situation is legally OK. We didn't have to make any deposit at all, but this may have been because it was not a new property. Our experience was that the whole process was rather low-key and we just let it run it's course - although, of course, we didn't have any deposit, so we could afford not to be concerned. It sounds like you're dealing with the owner direct (saves him the agency fee) so your situation is different from ours, where we were dealing with an English-speaking Immobilier.
