Greetings! Or should I say "Grüezi" ?!

It's been a while since I've started reading this forum. It has been a revelation on tips-and-tricks how to "survive" in Switzerland. Hopefully, I'd be better prepared for a new start in Switzerland. Just today I've signed up a contract with one of the banks to start an employment from March 1.

Short info about myself: 32 years old, speaking 6 languages, for the past 5 years lived in Australia, Poland and UK. My hobbies are: languages (naturally ), IT and cycling. I'd love to meet some of you people in real life, just to have a small chat or a pint (if quarantine doesn't intervene).

Cheers,
sputnik

Hoiiii and welcome,

What kind of bike? Road, MTB? My job office is moving to Zurich after covid restrictions end, so I'll become one sad commuter more, but I'm now available for beers in ZH

Hi, and welcome to the forum, and soon to Switzerland.

Hi, and welcome to the forum! I hope you get a smooth start in Switzerland once you get over here.

Thanks for the message. Honestly, before I was into single-speeds. However, due to the hills, I believe that in Zurich it is not the wisest thing to have?

Cheers for the welcoming message!
Frankly, I am already overwhelmed with the difficulty to even get a response regarding flat availability.
Should my optimism have a reality check already?

It is almost impossible to get a regular rental contract while you are still outside of the country, with the possible exception of the top of the range.

Since you are young and, I think, single, your options are

• a hotel
• a room in an aparthotel (= serviced rooms, like a hotel, but made for longer-term stays, so furnished including things like a desk, not just a bed)
• a room in shared accommodation (= several people sharing a flat, each with their own bedroom)
• AirBnB
• an apartment that is being rented out temporarily (e.g. by someone who is just going away for a few months and wants to come back afterwards)
• couchsuring (especially if you've built up your profile, and write good requests).

If your new employer will help you fund any of those, or will give you support with finding an apartment once you are here, that would be great. Some employers do, some don't. It's worth asking for that help, though, be it financial or as a service.

Once you are here, you will be able to attend the viewing slots of appartments, and put in your application.

For tips and suggestions on this, see also many threads on finding accommodation, here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=goog...hrome&ie=UTF-8

The search function within the forum doesn't work as well as googling from outside the forum, including "englishforum" as one of your searchwords.

Oh my God! Thanks a lot for the tips! Really handy!

Please forgive me if my next question would sound bizarre.
However, as I am a new joiner and I do not want to break any rules, is it allowed to post your query regarding possible accommodation? Such as "Looking for a WG/flat in ZH area" somewhere @ EnglishForum? If so, which Section would be the best for it?

Thanks a lot for the advice one more time!

Cheers,
sputnik

Yes, it is very much permissible. There are rules about your first having been a member for a while, and having posted 10 posts that the mods don't consider to be fluff posted merely to fill up your quota of 10. Personally, I think these rules are antiquated, but they are as they are. Rulz is Rulz.

Once you've gone through the hoops, look here:
https://www.englishforum.ch/forum.php
and scroll right down to "Market Place". There, you can first read the sticky about the rules: https://www.englishforum.ch/property...uncements.html and
here the two stickies about "Property Wanted".
https://www.englishforum.ch/property-wanted/

Welcome!

As you’ve been such a fan of EF, then you will already be aware of all the possible threads available on the impossibilities of an affordable apartment within easy reach of the banking district. In Corona times, and outside of the usual moving periods, even more so.

Lot’s of of biking paths, and you might get some pals here. But like anywhere else, strict Corona measures are in place - so forget about “meeting up for a pint” etc. A place to keep your bike might also be challenging.

Maybe do your research first, then ask the right questions afterwards is quite a good strategy to “surviving in Switzerland”.