All, we are moving from UK to Basel in September - Yaye!

Currently we have built in wardrobes in our house and only own chests of drawers for clothes. As we will be relocated, we wondered if we should be buying sufficient wardrobes for our clothes as it is likely cheaper and easier to get here rather than another thing to sort when we arrive.

Or is there a chance we get away with built in wardrobes in our permanent apartment?

Searching on here and a similar answer a few years ago together with homegate (although not sure if they mention it if there is built in wardrobes) suggests that it is rarer, but wanted to canvass your opinions before we drop a load of GBP on the current M&S furniture sale!

Thanks!

Yes I have but I must say that it was not mentioned in the add. From my relocation experience, I can say only one factor counts: luck.
Keep looking, ask on the phone right away when you make first contact and make it clear if you have a relocation agent or a appartment hunter for you.

When we rented our apartment a few months ago - the outgoing tenant did not want to take the wall of wardrobes he had with him when he left, so we bought them off him at a minimal amount. I think we were lucky though.
That said, although furniture will be cheaper in UK - there is the hassle of transporting it over (and waiting for it to arrive) and until you find a place, you won't know how much space you have for wardrobes anyway (or indeed if they come included).

There is an Ikea on the outskirts of Basel, where you could buy furniture here (and get delivered) - which might be the easier option.

Thanks as I wont be looking in earnest till October/November, we have to make a call before we go out to buy in UK. Think will go for it as its cheap and relocation and unpacking is covered.

Cheers

All the older properties here have big built-in wardrobes, but not new properties. However you can pick up big armoires at antique and TROC dealers (troc is like sort of brick a brack). We have a TROC up the road where amazing bargains can be had, both modern, and older+ antiques.

My place has them, but it's an old house and I think it was more common then. They are not huge though, so I had a look here www.ricardo.ch and bought two old (and beautiful) ones. Your local second-hand shop might be worth a look too. Good luck.

I definitely never saw big UK-Style built in wardrobes here - by that I mean one that will accomodate the approx 4 metres of hanging space that I need

If there are any at all (and I'd say overall it's not common) then they are more like what I'd call a cupboard rather than an actual fullsize wardrobe.

But hell, there's Ikea, so it's no big deal anyway (although they always seem to be too tall for a lot of ceilings).

My relocation agent said that the bedroom in my flat had a huge build in wardrobe so i wouldnt have to buy one. What i saw was a tiny 1m wide thing that didnt have space for anything.

On the other hand, a friends build in wardrobe covers the whole wall. Better to ask for dimensions!

Anyone give some advice on getting a fitted wardrobe at a sensible price. We have just got a quote for a fitted wardrobe from the preferred supplier of the builder.

So to cover a wall 4.2 meters in length, nothing what I call to special, not real wood = 15,000 CHF before the builder adds their 20% and if you think that is reasonable that is before adding the tax.

I am thinking if it is possible to get a ceiling-floor track with sliding doors then buy the framework behind from somewhere like IKEA.

Anyone embarked on something similar?

Either that I will buy a whole bunch of woodworking tools, import some exotic hardwood and build my own. Maybe not a bad idea, I could teach the children woodworking at the same time

Build your own! With that much money you can even hire PG to do it and that covers his transport and accomodation as well!

Get the dimensions correct. Go to Ikea and seek advise on helping you to design the unit. Have them to install them.
I am sure it will be cheaper.

Do you have a sloped ceiling? That is my challenge. But I have a quote from a carpenter and he will build sliding doors right across. Forget the builder's contacts, look around for a few local firms and get a few quotes. I think you will find prices vary a lot.

It is a new build apartment so the ceilings should not slope I hope!

Whilst it is being built we are only allowed to go to the preferred suppliers, the shocker was the quality of we were priced on was not that good either, pretty run of the mill. Once we have the keys we can use who we want afterwards which is what we are planning to do now.

That's a hefty price for something that isn't real wood.

I had a gorgeous wardrobe made to my specs by a local furniture maker, in solid cherry - a beautiful heirloom-quality piece - for less than what you have been quoted. The piece is stand alone, not built in - but I consider that a plus, as I'll take it with me when I leave.

(Sadly, this gentleman has since retired.)

You might want to get quotes from a few local furniture makers - it might be worth your while to forego the built-in and have a special piece made.

A number of points here that factor into that price, which I agree is a bit high.
1. Any built in wardrobes over 3.6 m (standard max length) require tracking by the meter, a quick look at my catalogues for quality tracking (including rollers but NOT doors) in this length costs +/- Chf1000 P/lm.
2. "Real wood" ie solid wood is a poor choice for built in robes, it "moves" too much and is heavy to be trouble free in the long term. Ok for freestanding robes. Better to use a venieered panel if you want a wood look.
3. As it sounds like a general carpenter (schreiner) is quoting the job, he will need specialist fittings (see above), these cost depending on the quantity you buy, so a specialist built in robe maker could make/supply it cheaper.

The market for these robes is quite competitive but you do get what you pay for. I would not look at Ikea/Interio better to use a similar but better quality store (Mobel Pfister ect, or direct Häfele see www.functionality-world.com) and get some offers. Make sure you have the plans/exact measurements with you when you go and insist on a price/estimate there and then, otherwise you wait a week for someone to measure, two weeks to make an offer, yada, yada, yada two months later you are still no closer to a solution. You won't haggle the price much but you may get a few extra features thrown in if they know you are serious and are getting other offers. Happy shopping.

Having moved 1 or 2 times here and seeing this post if you are considering purchasing bulky wardrobes in the UK then be prepared that they might not be able to be moved up the stairs into your apartment. They won't need to be huge to have challenges.

The IKEA style works so well here as you can carry them up narrow winding stairs. The alternative is to have large windows and hire a crane to get the wardrobes in.

Best advice is measure the target area and most likely that you will need to have something that can be carried in. You may also want to check the owners position on whether the wardrobe has to be removed at the end of your tenancy as it will in some cases be an alteration requiring you to leave the apartment as you took possession.