Dear Nadia,

We are running a consultancy company in Geneva and have a relocation department, we can forward you a list of clients that we assist that could give you there feedback about our services..

How we work is very simple. We know that it takes time to find apartments in Geneva and sorting through the paperwork needed and coordinating the visitation of potential apartments can quickly become a hassle, especially when you have just arrived in Geneva and are not familiar with the area. Our services take the time consuming and guessing out of the whole process.

We will:

We are a one stop shop in getting the hassle out of settling down in Geneva.

Should this be what you are looking for, then we look forward to meeting with you both to discuss your criteria and needs. Feel free to contact us at anytime for any further inquiries.

Kind regards,

Raymond

www.harmelingconsultancy.com

Hi Raymond,

Do you also do the same for Berne or are you just focussed in Geneva?

Thanks again,

Christine.

Hi Christine,

I wouldn't recommend using an agent. We had a terrible time when we first moved here -  the agent was showing us properties that had been advertised for weeks, nowhere near Geneve (St. Cergue, Mont-sur-Rolle!!!) and was telling us blatant lies such as "you won't get anything in Geneva for less than 3000CHF". I'm waiting to hear anything positive about using an agent!

Your best bet is to keep on the ball and check as many rental sites as possible. It seems like a lot of work - but you'll get what you want and you won't have to put up with the lackadaisical, agent attitude. Check ASLOCA http://www.asloca.ch/ if you need any advice on leases, your rights etc.

All the best with your hunt!

"Paying for an apartment there and then as soon as you visit it" sounds like a scam to me. It's never done that way: you visit the place, if you like it you submit your papers to the regie, then you wait for a reply, and usually you pay the first month of rent when you go to sign the contract.

Agree with Eva. Normal way is through a regie. $They are not proactive and you have do do the searching yourself.

However post 1 housing agents seems a reasonable posting and if you do not have the time then use an agent but you are one step removed from the regie.

But as is stated above the agent starts proposing properties which are not what you requested, then drop the agent.  And I would presume no payment up front but there are no rules here. A good agent who spends time looking for you needs to earn his daily bread

I received a search agency cervices as a part of the relocation package from my employer. 

From my experience the agent prings more probles, than benefits.

I found the apartment myself, here, on glocals, and without the agencie's involvement it might take two times less time and worries.

For me the only advantage of using the agency was their language knowledge.

If I didn't have this service in my relocation package, I never pay for such services myself.