Ahh, looking for a flat while you're not yet in Geneva is a real pain.

I don't recommend rental agents because often they ask to be paid regardless whether they find an accommodation for you -- so often they are just able to accommodate your money in their pockets.

Are you being relocated by your company? Then your best bet is to ask them help you. Most IntOrgs or multinationals provide a service of this kind.

Good luck!

Thanks for the information.  Alas, the organization is very small and does not offer relocation services. 

Any idea how to separate the scams from the real offers from abroad?  I have figured out that anything Western Union is most likely a scam. 

Hi there. I had this service for free when I moved to Geneva but didn't find it very useful. They didn't find a suitable place for me during their one month assignment. They basically look up the ads based on the criteria you give them, make appointments if necessary, maybe drive you there and they fax the file to the regie if you want to apply.

However: you can look up the ads yourself, most apartment visits are group visits at a fixed time nowadays and it's much better to go give your file to the regie in person.

I don't really see much value in these intermediaries, maybe for higher priced apartments or houses it would be worth it but for the mainstream aprtments there isn't  much they can do.

Dear Kellie

I have a 3 bedroomed furnished apartment i would like to sub-let on a long term basis.it goes for 2,400 chf per month with all charges.if interested,give me a shout as i need to get somebody by the end of september.thank you

We used a company called Primacy relocation. My partners company paid so I have no idea what the charges are, but within about 3 weeks of arriving and searching we had an offer of an apartment. This I think was pretty good going.

You can do these things yourself but it takes time and what the agents are probably quite good at is wording the application to suit the apartment thus increasing your chances.

What I did discover very quickly is that the nice apartments that cost between 2000-2,600 chf a month are extremely popular and most viewings are group viewings for 1 hour. You apply along with a lot of other people and hope for the best. We were lucky enough to be able to pay a bit more and were prepared to move outside the city and then the competition was less intense.

Hi Danny - I am interested.  whre is it and do you have photos you could send me?

thanks-

Kellie

I am looking for an apart with 2-3 bedrooms. Please, can you send me the details on [email protected].

Thank you in advance.

Hey Danny M,

I am looking for an 2-3 bedrooms apart. Please, can you send me the details to [email protected].

thank you in advance.

I used www.welcome-service.ch and found them very helpful. 

They found me a great apartment that filled all my criteria. Good luck!

It's very good information for me ^^;; How much is it for the service? and How long does it take?

Oh~ it is my mistake. the above question is to Liam9383, Sorry. I can not delete the messege.. ^^.;;;;