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| Just back from an orientation weekend in Geneva, to see if we like it before my husband accepts a job there. A relocation agent showed us around a number of appartments/houses to give us an idea of what we could expect to get. The problem is, we were very disheartened with what we found. Despite willing to pay up to CHF4000 per month, all properties, except one, were extremely outdated in terms of bathrooms/kitchens (like 20+ years old) and felt very 'unloved' and neglected. I appreciate that the market is different in Geneva, in that most people rent, and so properties are perhaps not as well maintained as traditional UK owner-occupied properties, but is this the norm? | |
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Unfortunately yes. You have to realise that the vacancy rate in Geneva is extremely low - and has been so for 10+ years as nothing new is being built. As such, owners have no incentive to invest into refurbishing/upkeep/modernising. Things like an old bathroom are mere details when you have been looking for a place to live for three years. It is unfortunate, but it is like that. I would think that 4'000 should set you up in a more decent place - maybe you need to visit more and have different relocation agents.
But the general approach here is get whatever you can, and get it before someone else does.