Does anyone know or could recommend a good relocation company (in ZRH)? the type of agency that helps you to find a flat, doing the paperwork, negotiations etc. Thanks much.

Apparently www.network-relocation.com is pretty good in that they help quite a bit upon arriving.

Also http://www.remax-relocation.ch/?modu...=index&lang=en is apparently very small and helpful company too.

I have not had the opportunity to use either of them,

Lisa

I'm using one called Bridging Cultures Relocation. www.bridgingculturesrelocation.com. I'm dealing with them from the U.S. and will be meeting with them in a couple of weeks in Zurich. They seem competent and helpful if you want to check them out. The number is 41.44.720.65.08. Ask for Roswitha van den Berg. You can mention Michael from New Orleans was the referral if you like, although it won't get you any special treatment!
Good luck with your relocation!

Has anyone used one to find their housing in CH? Any ideas of how much they cost? Would love to hear any experiences (good or bad) and any recommendations anyone might have.

Hi, we came from Suffolk-Basel in July.We used network relocation and they were fantastic. They even took us to the bank to open our accounts, to register for our pemits even arranged things like tv licence and telephone for us. I know that they are getting paid for this but it really did help us when we first got here. I don't know how much this cost as it was part of our relocation package but I think I would pay for it if I had to.

We used one for our move from Northern Ireland to Basel, and they were fabulous. They came as a part of the company agreement, to help us settle in. They gave us x number of 'hours' for the liason officer to show us around on a visit and to settle us in. I honestly wouldn't know what I would have done without our agent - she was just brilliant - although I shouldn't be speaking in past tense and she continues to help us out on occasion.... She knew we were going to rent first with a view to buy, so 'saved' some of her hours to spend with us for when we buy.....

So I can't help with the question of cost, but if you're looking for someone up Basel way, I could find out the company name, contact details etc.

Megan

Hello Music Mole

I have contacted all 3 names I was given via this forum, but am not able to tell you which one is better. Be prepared to shell out between 5-7K CHF depending on how "much" help you need. (apartment research, visits, setting up bank accounts, school for children etc). If I were you, I would try to negotiate that relocation package with your employer if work is driving your move. Good luck with your move!!

Laifu

These people are apparently really good :
http://www.key-relocation.ch/

Not sure they do Zurich though. You could always call and ask

As with everything, there are good and bad relo companies out there - unfortunately, the company assigned to deal with our move definitely fell into the latter category.

Cost - IIRC, 10K+. (This was eight years ago) The fee was tied to the monthly rental, plus fees. Seemed quite excessive, given that they were only able to show me a few properties...

Service - Unorganized and unprofessional. I had limited time available for a house hunting trip, and expected to spend my three days here efficiently. Had several conversations with the firm outlining my expectations, etc. I arrived in Zürich only to find they had not booked any viewings - and I certainly didn't appreciate their suggestion that I might want to spend my time shopping on Bahnhofstrasse instead. I ended up having to schedule a second house hunting trip later.

Secondly, the firm kept pushing properties that were significantly more expensive than we had budgeted. I got the impression that they were trying to milk a corporate move for all they could.

Once we chose a house, the relo firm took over the contract negotiation and handover (that's their job, afterall.) Mistake. The firm signed a five year lease with a huge penalty for early move out. Given that they knew this was a one, max two year assignment - pretty ridiculous.

They also did not ensure that repairs for damages caused by the previous tenants were done, as had been promised.

When we later moved out, I found out that the relo firm had not done the handover protocol. (We didn't even know this was a necessity) We ended up having to fight charges for the previous tenant's damages.

So... if you have a choice of relo agents, make sure that you check references and ask about others' experience with the firm. It also helps to have a little understanding of the Zürich housing market so that you can tell when your are being fed a line...

In all fairness, I arrived in Zürich speaking no German, knowing nothing of the how the rental market worked here, with a tight deadline. I doubt I could have found a place on my own.

And the name of these jokers was???