A cat scurries across the street. It doesn't have to hurry, because there is hardly any traffic here on Neudorfstrasse in Zurich Oerlikon. It is a quiet neighborhood. Two-storey apartment buildings with gabled roofs and gardens line the street, trees and shrubs dominate the scene. The neighborhood seems to be from another era, almost out of time.

A lot has happened around the tranquil street in recent years. Large apartment buildings have been built and the neighborhood is buzzing. Five minutes' walk away are Zurich's Hallenstadion, the exhibition hall 9 and Theater 11. Five minutes in the other direction and you find yourself in the heart of Zurich Oerlikon - surrounded by restaurants, cafés and shops.

The Neudorfstrasse district is also likely to change in the future. It is one of the development areas in the city of Zurich where new living space can be created thanks to a revision of the building and zoning regulations.

A MANDATE THAT CALLS FOR EXPERIENCE

One place where this could soon be the case is the property at Neudorfstrasse 31/33. The two owners Marco Keller and Marcel Werner have sold their properties together. The mandate was handled by Stefanie Bigler, head of the Ginesta Zurich North office.

The qualified real estate trustee has more than 20 years of experience in real estate marketing. And that was exactly what was needed for this mandate. “The sales process was multi-layered, complex and had an exciting dynamic,” says Stefanie Bigler during a meeting in her office. She exchanges meaningful glances with the sellers sitting at the table. “You could say that,” confirms Marcel Werner with a grin, while Marco Keller nods in agreement.

AN EMOTIONAL DECISION

One reason for the complexity and dynamics was the history of the owners. The sale began with Marcel Werner's property alone. "It was my mother's parents' house. Although I never lived there myself, I had a close relationship with the house - and especially with the longstanding tenants who lived there until recently," says Werner. A sale was out of the question for him for a long time. “I promised the tenants - an elderly couple - that I would keep the house as long as they wanted to live in it.”

It was only when the couple moved into a retirement apartment in Oerlikon around three years ago that Marcel Werner decided to take action: "Managing and renting out the house became too much for me due to my age. That's why I wanted to sell."

Werner got in touch with Ginesta through a private contact. Ginesta was very interested, the chemistry was right and Stefanie Bigler took on the mandate. "It was an interesting starting point. At the same time, it was clear to us that we could do more with the property if we also developed the neighboring property," recalls Stefanie Bigler.

That's why she first sought talks with Marco Keller. He was considered as a buyer or co-seller. But Marco Keller declined for the time being. The rejection was regrettable, but understandable, says Bigler today: “After all, it was about a family history - and a lot of emotions.”

FROM THE ESTIMATE TO THE STUDY TO THE NETWORK

Ginesta planned to sell Marcel Werner's property. The process took its course. The internal valuation desk assessed the property and an external architectural firm prepared a feasibility study to examine the development potential. "Such a study is an important preliminary clarification so that not every interested party has to make the same clarifications. Through preliminary discussions with the authorities, it offers a certain value and security for buyers, simplifies the sales process and saves time," explains Stefanie Bigler.

She compiled sales documentation and activated her network of investors and developers. "We used our internal database and the profiles of our search customers. Ginesta has built up these contacts over the 80 years that we have been active in this field," says Bigler. As an experienced estate agent, she knows exactly which interested parties are suitable for which property - and approaches them in a targeted manner.

ONE PROPERTY BECOMES TWO

Around a month after the start of the sales process, several interested parties showed up. Then everything changed: Marco Keller got back in touch.

"In the meantime, I had held various discussions with my father and we came to the conclusion that it made the most sense to sell both properties together. It's the only way to create something great on the property," recalls Keller. The decision pleased both Marcel Werner and Ginesta - but it also presented new challenges. In the middle of the ongoing sales process, one property suddenly became two. “It was of course a positive new starting point, but a completely different one,” says Bigler.

She acted quickly, personally informing the previous interested parties about the new situation - including additional development opportunities. “Marco Keller's decision led to new interested parties, and we received additional offers,” says Bigler. After a structured bidding process and intensive consultation, the owners decided to make an offer.

IN ADDITION TO KNOW-HOW, YOU ALSO NEED A SURE INSTINCT

Stefanie Bigler's expertise was particularly in demand during this phase. Not least because the buyer was a professional investor specializing in real estate development. "You have to recognize the potential of a property and need specialist knowledge - from valuation and local market knowledge to construction, tenancy, bond and tax law. At Ginesta, we have all these skills in-house," she explains.

“WE WERE ABLE TO RELY ON OUR EXPERT”

The sellers also confirm this. They emphasize that it would have been impossible for them to carry out the sale without professional support. "We lacked knowledge and time. You need a competent partner. Stefanie Bigler was able to negotiate professionally with the interested parties on an equal footing," emphasizes Marco Keller. At the same time, she took care of all the steps - from legal matters to contracts and the small print. Marcel Werner speaks of an all-round carefree package.

“We were involved when it was important to us, but didn't have to worry about anything else.”