English Forum Switzerland - View Single Post

mick c · #4 11.09.2007, 19:19

Due Diligence Switzerland
(Build Question List from each topic. Focus on recurring costs vs. fixed costs)

Underlying Economy

Rate of Inflation (in %)
Price of Housing (2, 3, 4, 5 Yrs. Ago)
- Own
- Rent
Price of Gasoline
Average Salary (Determine opinion from all walks of life)
Cost of Lunch
Cost of Dinner
Cost of McDonald's Value Meal
Cost of a Cup of Coffee at Starbuck's
Cost of a Movie
Cost of a DVD Rental
Cost of a Haircut
Cost of a Manicure
Postal Service
- Letter
- Large Letter
- Package
- What other services does the Post Office provide
Parcel Service
- FedEx
- DHL

Health

Medical

Quality of Care

- Availability of Care
  - # of Days for an Appointment
- Health Maintenance
  - Annual Physicals
    - Blood Work
    - Stress Test
    - Other Tests
- Cost Per Visit
- Insurance
  - Levels of Service
  - Premiums
  - Deductibles
- Hospitals
  - Emergency Rooms
- Situations
  - Cold/Flu
  - Sprained Joint
  - Broken Limb
  - Minor Surgery
  - Major Surgery
  - Disease
  - Chest Pains
- Vet Care
  - Cost per Visit
  - Quality of Care
  - Cost of Food
  - Kennels
    - Cost per Day
- Where to get prescriptions

Dental

- Quality of Care
- Availability of Care
  - # of Days for an appointment
- Dental Check-Ups/Teeth Cleaning
  - 6 months
- Situations
  - Cavity
  - Broken Tooth
  - Crown
  - Root Canal

Pharmacy/Health Products

- Prescriptions
- Everyday Health Aids
  - Vitamins
  - Cold/Flu Medication
  - Cough Syrup

Home

Where to purchase...........
- Home Repair Materials (Home Depot type store)
- Furniture
- Household Goods

Electricity

- Source
  - Nuclear
  - Oil
  - Natural Gas
  - Solar
  - Wind
- Average Cost per Month
- Typical Amp Service per House/Apt.
- # of Outlets per Room
- # of Outlets per Circuit
- # of Circuits per House
- Service Interruption (Common types...Weather, Service Work, Other)
  - Typical Duration

Telecommunications

- Availability
  - Cable TV
  - Internet
  - Phone
- Cable TV (Cost of each Service)
  - Avg. Number of TV outlets per home
    - Typical locations
  - Is Digital Cable Available?
- Internet (High Speed Data)
  - Speed and Cost
  - Provider
    - Cable Co.
    - Phone Co.
- Phone
  - Avg. Number of Phone Jacks per home
    - Typical locations
  - Long Distance Costs
  - Will US Phones work

Heating/Cooling

- Type
  - Radiator
  - Radiant
  - Forced Air
- Energy Source
  - Oil
  - Natural Gas
  - Electricity
- Avg. Cost per Month
  - Is it included in rent?
- Type of Windows in Home
  - Insulated/non-Insulated
- Is the residence insulated

Water

- Is there a charge?
- Cleanliness
- Potability
- Minerals (Iron, Calcium, etc...)
- Hard or Soft Water
- Water Source

Sewer Service

- Is there a charge?
- Community sewer or septic system?

Responsibilities of Landlord/Tenant

- General Maintenance
- Appliance Repairs
- Structural Repairs
- Painting
- Landscaping
- Top repair issues on homes in Switzerland

Transportation

- Cost of Automobile Purchase
  - Actual Cost of Vehicle
  - Sales Tax
  - Registration
  - Annual Fees
  - Road Tariffs
  - Inspections
- Vehicle Maintenance Costs
  - Oil Cahnge
    - Can you change your own oil?
  - Cost of a Mechanic per Hour
    - # of Days for an Appointment
    - # of Days in Shop
    - Are loaner cars typical?
- What is the Typical Warranty
- Other
  - Train Tickets
    - Is a Monthly Pass Available?
  - Ferry Costs
  - Bus Tickets
  - Toll Roads?
- Parking
  - How to use parking meters
    - Cost per Hour
- Travel to Other Countries (issues?)
- Violations
  - Parking
    - Where to pay
    - # of Days to pay
    - Cost
    - How Strictly is it enforced
  - Speeding Ticket
    - Same as Above
  - Moving Violation
    - Same as Above
- Driver's License
  - How long is US license good for?
  - Requirements for Swiss License
  - Where to get a Swiss License
- Accident
  - How are Traffic Accident's Handled
    - Are Police called to scene?
    - Is info exchanged between driver's?
    - When and how is insurance co. notified?
    - How are claims handled
    - Other Customs

Finance/Taxes

Negotiation Protocol (Customs/Etiquette)
- Acceptable Negotiation Tacticsin Regards to.........
  - Housing
    - Lease Terms
      - 1 yr., 18 mo., 2 yr.
      - Additional Quarter's
      - Month to Month
      - Typical Lease Exit
        # of Months Notification
        
        Deadlines
      - Condition of Home at start and end of lease
      - Other considerations in typical Swiss lease
      - Are prices fixed
      - % available for notification
    - Home Repair
      - Typical protocol for hiring a contractor
      - Do they perform? (2 week syndrome)
  - Auto
    - Typical protocol in purchasing/leasing a vehicle
    - % available for negotiation
    - any web sites for comparison shopping
  - Store Purchases
    - Furniture
    - Electronics
    - Appliances
Banking
- Is it easy to open an account?
  - Savings
  - Checking
  - Money Market
- What is amount of interest paid on accounts?
- What is the most common form of payment used?
  - Cash
  - Check
  - Debit
  - Credit
- How hard is it to get a credit/debit card?
- Transfer of assets.....to and from home country?
Taxes
- Income
- Federal
- Regional
- City
- Property
- Transportation
- Sales Tax
- Duty on goods shipped from US
Insurance
- Property
- Personal
- Auto
- Are there a lot of lawsuits in Switzerland?

Shopping

Food

- Best place to buy fresh produce and meats
- Most cost effective stores
- Are there coupons issued in local papers
- List of Grocery Store Chains
Clothing
- Are there outlet centers
- Location of Malls
- Regional Discount Stores
- List of Department Stores
Electronic's
- TV's
- Computer's
- Audio/Video
- Is internet buying of electronics a common thing?

Crime

What type of Crime is most common?

Areas or towns that have a higher rate of Crime?

Types

- Pick Pocket
- Burglary
- Mugging
- Auto Theft
- ID Theft
- Rape
- Murder

Weather

# of Day's of Sun
# of Days's of Rain
# of Day's of Measurable Snow
- travel/commute consideration?
# of Day's Below Freezing
Avg. Daily Temp's for each Season

Entertainment

Sports
- Most Common Sports in Switzerland
- Where is the closest Park, Ski Area, Stadium, Arena
- Can you see US sports on TV
Concerts
- Closest Venues
- Typical Cost of a Ticket
Movies
- Closest Theater's
- What type of theater
- Cost of a admission
- Cost of popcorn, etc...
Events
Festivals
Natural Wonders
Cities/Towns/Villages to visit
Landmarks
Drives/Tours
Ask Locals.....What is your favorite......
- Restaurant
- Local Hang-Out
- Coffe Shop
- Bakery
- Market
- Pub
- Mall
- Grocery Store
What are the typical foods found in Switzerland?
- Indian
- German
- Italian
- French
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Mexican
- Other

Tough Questions…………..

What do you like most about Switzerland (at least 3 examples)

What do you like least or needs improvement? (3 examples)

What are the biggest things that bother the Swiss about America and/or Americans? (As many examples as can be thought of) Very Important !

Things we need to work on to make assimilation process as smooth as possible?

Personality traits or customs that we should look for or pay attention to. (Handshake, kissing, sir names, etc…)

Things that should be avoided.

Other

Where might we find other American Ex-Pats?

Newspapers

Is Home Delivery Available?

A review of items to take into consideration.

Ease of access to highway (commute)

General access to a community

Food/Shopping

Entertainment

Dining

Medical/Dental

Auto Repair

Airport