Selling off-market in Megève: the ARES method.
Selling off-market means selling with no public exposure at all: no listing, no portal, no shop window. The property is shown only to qualified buyers, one by one, under confidentiality. It is ARES’s speciality in Megève, Demi-Quartier and Combloux — and in this segment, the norm more than the exception: many of the resort’s finest properties change hands without ever having been advertised. The method holds in five steps: a confidential valuation using our ABC method (Achieved, Benchmarked, Calibrated), a discreet file, a targeted approach of our network of buyers and co-brokers across Geneva, London, Monaco, Paris, Milan and Dubai, qualified viewings, then negotiation through to completion. At every step, the owner keeps control.
The method, in five steps
| Step | What | How |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Confidential valuation | Our ABC method: Achieved prices (transaction history), Benchmarked (comparable properties currently for sale), Calibrated by our expert eye (property characteristics and market climate). |
| 02 | Discreet file | Presentation file prepared for private circulation only; photos and details stay off the internet. |
| 03 | Targeted approach | Qualified buyers from our register and co-brokerage partners (Geneva, London, Monaco, Paris, Milan, Dubai), one by one, under confidentiality. |
| 04 | Qualified viewings | Accompanied viewings limited to serious, vetted candidates. |
| 05 | Negotiation & completion | Negotiation led by ARES, then completion before a French notaire; the sale can remain unpublicised end to end. |
How do we value a property? The ABC method
At ARES, every valuation follows the ABC method.
A for Achieved — we start from the prices actually signed: the transaction history in Megève, Demi-Quartier and Combloux, including the off-market sales we have recently completed.
B for Benchmarked — that base is set against comparable properties currently on the market: what is offered today, at what price, and for how long.
C for Calibrated — the expert adjustment. Data does not tell the whole story: condition, exposure, ski access, view, charm, scarcity — and the market climate of the moment. That calibration is what turns data into the right price.
The result: a defensible range, established in full confidentiality.
Why sell without a public listing?
Discretion first: often a non-negotiable point for owners of exceptional homes. Scarcity next: it is about showcasing what makes the property unique.
The trade-off is simple: without advertising, everything rests on the agency’s network. That is precisely what ARES has built — a register of qualified buyers, a Geneva office in direct contact with the resort’s primary client base, and co-brokerage partners in the cities where Megève buyers live.
Off-market or a classic sale: how to choose?
Both routes coexist at ARES, and the choice is made case by case. A classic sale — with national and international distribution — maximises exposure and suits properties whose best chance is the widest audience. Off-market suits rare properties, sought-after addresses and owners for whom confidentiality comes first — even if the sale takes the time to find the right buyer rather than the first one.
In both cases the starting point is the same: a confidential valuation and a conversation about your priorities. It is also possible to start off-market and widen later — the reverse is not true: a property already exposed cannot become confidential again.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an off-market sale?
- An off-market sale is the sale of a property without any public listing: no portal advert, no shop-window display, no online exposure. The property is presented only to qualified buyers, one by one, under confidentiality. In the prestige segment worldwide, it is an increasingly common practice.
- How can I sell a Megève chalet discreetly?
- By selling it off-market: no advert, no portal, no shop window. The property is shown only to qualified buyers, drawn from our register and our co-brokerage network, one by one and under confidentiality. Neighbours and press never know — and the sale leaves no online price history. It is ARES’s speciality in Megève, Demi-Quartier and Combloux.
- How does ARES find a buyer without advertising?
- Through its network, built for this purpose: qualified buyers registered with a precise search, families already owning in the resort, and co-brokerage partners in Geneva, London, Monaco, Paris, Milan and Dubai. Our Geneva office gives direct access to the Lake Geneva clientele — the resort’s primary buyer base. Each presentation is individual and under confidentiality; the property is never mass-diffused.
- How does an off-market sale with ARES proceed?
- In five steps: a confidential valuation of the property using our ABC method — prices Achieved, Benchmarked against the market, Calibrated by our expert eye; a discreet presentation file, prepared without public exposure; a targeted approach of qualified buyers from our network, under confidentiality; qualified viewings, arranged one by one; then negotiation through to completion. At every step the owner keeps control — nothing is shown or shared without agreement.