The 5 best real estate agents in Zurich who’ll land you the perfect deal
Three years ago, my friend moved his family into a bigger home in Zurich. With the kids growing up and another on the way, they needed more space. In just two weeks, they found their dream home.
The secret? I’d say it came down to hiring the right real estate agent. Whether you’re buying a family home by Lake Zurich or selling property in Seefeld, having the right agent help makes all the difference. The process becomes smoother, faster, and far less stressful.
So, if you ever find yourself in the market, make sure you work with a real pro. You can start with these real estate agents, whom I recommend.
| How much do real estate agents charge in Zurich? Real estate agents in Zurich typically charge 2% to 5% of a property’s value. The exact amount depends on the type of property, its location, possible travel expenses, and other factors. |
1. Newhome
Address: Talacker 41, 8001
Contact Details: +41 44 240 11 60
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Founded in 2013, Newhome is more of a real estate platform than a traditional agent. This distinction hardly matters because Newhome excels at connecting buyers and sellers.
The Newhome platform already provides everything a buyer or seller needs. Properties for sale are prominently featured on the website, complete with detailed pictures, accurate and up-to-date prices, and other relevant information.
I appreciate that the company has specialists in every key area of real estate—business developers, customer care agents, salespeople, and even data analytics experts.
If you prefer more personalised assistance, Newhome offers outsourcing services through its partner companies. This means they connect you with partners who can assist in your property search.
I appreciate that this enables them to offer services typically provided by traditional real estate agents, which you can greatly benefit from.
However, some users report that Newhome’s pricing is relatively high. Additionally, its platform-based approach may not appeal to buyers who prefer a more hands-on, traditional real estate experience.
Precise and informative
“A very good service, the presentation of the objects for rent is very precise, a lot of information already in the title in addition to the quality of the photos. Many thanks.”
– Houida Baazaoui, Google Review
Provides immediate response
“The newhome website is very attractive. The pictures are also good and meaningful. I received an immediate response to the first two objects I was interested in. That’s what I call good customer service, which is important to me.”
– Sandra Ruf, Google Review
2. Bestag
Address: Renggerstrasse 43, 8038
Contact Details: +41 44 552 65 11
Operating Hours: Open 24/7
Bestag claims to have the ‘winning formula’ to sell your properties, and I’d say that claim is quite accurate.
Their proprietary analysis software matches sellers with their three best agents, ensuring a well-informed choice.
Additionally, their agents provide five well-researched evaluations using tools typically used by banks. You can then choose the agent who best fits your needs. This is a clear advantage when making a well-informed decision.
The best part is that you’re guaranteed the agent’s A-game since their commission depends on securing the highest price. This incentive drives them to maximise your property’s value.
However, Bestag caters exclusively to sellers, which is disappointing since buyers could also benefit from this winning formula.
Additionally, some previous clients reported delays in receiving a response to their initial consultation request.
Ensures professionalism throughout the process
“This morning, I finalised the sale of my apartment—less than four months after starting the process with Bestag. Throughout the process, I felt very reassured by the professionalism of all the people at Bestag that I interacted with. The same is true of the three agents that Bestag proposed for me to pick from: I would have gladly used any of them. I strongly recommend Bestag to anybody who wants to sell at a good price and minimise risks and hassle.”
– Lennart Meier, Google Review
Professional and switched-on partner
“Bestag is without a shadow of a doubt the best partner if you are looking at a very professional and switched-on partner for the sale of your property at the best possible price. They accompanied me throughout the entire process and took care of pretty much everything and kept me in the loop at all times.”
– Phillip Guth, Google Review
3. Zurich Sotheby’s Realty
Address: Rennweg 35, 8001
Contact Details: +41 44 512 61 51
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Zurich Sotheby’s Realty lives up to the sterling reputation of its parent company Sotheby’s—a globally renowned auction house and real estate brand known for its excellence, luxury properties, and high standards of service.
I can confidently say that their portfolio of high-end properties in Zurich is impressive. They have listings in prime locations throughout the city, and each property epitomises luxury.
Additionally, the firm’s staff is highly professional and knowledgeable. They provided detailed responses to all my questions, backed by actual data, and explained everything clearly and concisely.
I also loved how open and accommodating they were, even though I had told them I wasn’t ready to buy luxury just yet. Despite knowing this, they remained professional and treated me with the same level of respect and attentiveness.
However, their pricing reflects the exclusivity of their high-end properties. This may limit accessibility for average buyers but ensures prestige for those who can afford it.
Warm, friendly, and highly professional
“Working with Ghilaine and Sandra to purchase our new property in Kilchberg was an absolute pleasure. From the start, their warmth and friendliness made the process so enjoyable, while their deep expertise and thoughtful advice ensured everything went smoothly.
They handled every detail with incredible skill and care, taking the time to ensure every step was as seamless as possible. It’s rare to find agents who are both highly professional and genuinely kind, making them stand out in every way. We can’t recommend them enough—two truly exceptional people who made finding our dream home at the lake of Zürich a joy!”
– Terrence Reilly, Google Review
Professional staff with good humour
“Sandra is incredible both on a professional and human level! Her smile and good humor are felt when you meet her! I highly recommend her services!”
– Marine RX, Google Review
4. Engel & Völkers
Address: Querstrasse 6, 8050
Contact Details: +41 43 888 11 26
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Highly skilled and well-trained real estate agents are the hallmark of Engel & Völkers. I once had the privilege of a consultation and could immediately tell I was dealing with a true professional.
Knowing that the company recruits top agents globally and provides them with continuous education at Engel & Völkers Real Estate Academy reassured me during my consultation.
Engel & Völkers’ agents are local market experts—an invaluable advantage. Their deep understanding of regional trends, pricing dynamics, and neighbourhood insights allows them to provide strategic guidance tailored to each client’s needs.
Additionally, their access to a vast global network is impressive. This allows sellers to reach international buyers and have their properties featured on exclusive real estate platforms, maximising market opportunities with both local and global exposure.
However, as with any globally renowned company, costs can be quite steep. Some clients have noted that the commission fees feel high compared to those of smaller, independent agencies.
Professional and well-prepared
“We had a great experience with the Engel & Völkers team in Oerlikon when selling our apartment. They were really professional, prepared a great presentation, handled all the apartment visits very well and regularly sharing update reports with us. Finally they took complete care of the sale. Iit was really hassle-free for us! We would definitely work with them again!”
– Carlo Arrioja, Google Review
Extremely kind, honest, and accommodating
“We had a wonderful experience as buyers. We just bought a house with the mediation of Joel Hoffman from Engel & Völkers, and we couldn’t be happier! He was extremely kind, honest and accommodating throughout the whole process. Thanks to him we knew exactly what to expect at every step, and the purchase went very smoothly. We hope we’ll stay in this home for many years, but if we ever need to sell it, we’ll surely ask Mr Hoffman for help. Recommend without any reservations”
– Lidia Del Rio, Google Review
5. Silver Nest Relocation
Address: Trichtenhausenstrasse 85, 8053
Contact Details: +41 76 569 62 14
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday – 8 AM – 6 PM
Silver Nest Relocation stands out for two key reasons. First, they serve a highly specific market. Second, their deals are reasonably priced.
I appreciate that they specialise in finding homes for expatriate families relocating to Zurich, particularly in and around the Lake Zurich region. However, their exclusive focus on expatriate families may limit their service flexibility.
Regardless, they also offer a wide range of relocation services. Their services include home search, property sales, and moving assistance. They even provide education counselling, settling-in assistance, and immigration services.
In short, they offer a comprehensive relocation package. Many past clients have vouched for their excellence.
However, one drawback is their notably slow response time. Several clients, myself included, experienced delays of multiple days before receiving a reply.
Goes above and beyond
“Caroline and the team at Silver Nest went above and beyond to help us navigate the notoriously difficult Zurich apartment market, and find, get, and settle into an apartment we absolutely love. She took our specific needs and requests into account, advised us on options, and pulled out all the stops to help us secure our top pick apartments. We couldn’t have done this without her and the team.”
– Andrea Spillmann-Gajek, Google Review
Friendly and warm-hearted
“Ms. Caroline Kaufmann helped my family twice to find an apartment during the whole process, she is friendly and warm heart, considered all the service details for us , and really high efficient to get connections with the potential apartments. For the second time when we contacted with her again, she did an urgent help and support for us , without her, we never could be successful to get the offer. We will also recommend her to anyone who would move to Switzerland or when you want to change apartment within Switzerland.”
– Qi Wang, Google Review