Exclusive Mandate or Open Mandate: Which Agency Contract Fits You?
Exclusive vs open mandate in Switzerland: benefits, risks, term, and what owners should check in the agency contract.
Before hiring an agent, you choose the mandate: exclusive (Alleinauftrag) or open (Einfachauftrag). It decides how many agents may work in parallel, who earns commission if you find a buyer yourself, and how much the agent invests in marketing. In Switzerland the contract is freely drafted – so read the text, not only the label.
On makli.ch, owners collect several offers and compare fees and proposed mandate types.
Exclusive mandate: full responsibility, often stronger marketing
With an exclusive mandate you typically appoint one agent for a fixed term. The agent is more likely to invest in photography, portals and outreach because success earns the fee. Many serious firms work exclusively only – not automatically a downside if service and price fit.
Check term (often 3–6 months), notice, qualification clauses, and what happens if you sell yourself during the term. Question long trailing commissions after the contract ends. Compare offers first on makli.ch.
Open mandate: several agents – more coordination, more risk
An open mandate lets several agents market the same property. That sounds like reach, but often means inconsistent prices, duplicate listings and buyers seeing the same home repeatedly. Commission usually goes to whoever can prove they introduced the buyer – disputes are common.
Owners face more coordination and market confusion. One strong exclusive agent is often more efficient. Use makli.ch to pick one partner from reviews and offers instead of five half-hearted mandates.
What to check in the agency contract
Read: parties, property description, price or range, commission including VAT, due date, mandate type, term, termination, who pays listing and photo costs, data protection, and whether subcontractors are allowed. Vague wording about “any prospect known during the term” can get expensive.
Take your time. Compare two or three offers. First orientation via MakliBot; collect mandates via the owners page.
Conclusion
An exclusive mandate is often more efficient in Switzerland if the agent delivers. An open mandate rarely fits and needs strict rules. Decide on offers and contract – not gut feel alone.
Collect offers on makli.ch.