So far we have viewed a total of seven flats. In Basel. Where we currently do not live. This has involved three trips to Basel so far – a two hour drive from Karlsruhe. And we have written to many, many more. For some, we get an auto-reply saying to call a number. Others respond with “sorry, no viewings on weekends!”. One said the flat in question was already gone, another that they’d already had more than 40 applications so it wasn’t worth us taking the trip to Basel! And one of the seven we’ve viewed has also rejected us. Jan has now arranged another 4 viewings on Friday – he’ll be attending those alone because I have to work. Then I’ll go to Basel straight from work on Friday and we’ll stay overnight because we have another viewing on Saturday. At 8 am! Yes, you read that correctly. Now Jan is phoning more people to try and persuade them to let us view flats on Saturday. Are you exhausted on our behalf yet? If any of you ever decides to move to Switzerland, this is what you’ll have to do to find a flat! (And this is just Basel… we’ve been told it’s even worse in Zurich.)
Meanwhile, I still haven’t packed more than one box. And I did that back in January when it was bulk rubbish day and I took out a bookcase that I no longer wanted. I have managed to sort msot of my crafting supplies into various containers, which will make it much easier to transport, and I’ve sorted out the many bills from my Internet provider that I never got round to putting away properly because they weren’t pre-holepunched and I’m lazy! I’ve also written to cancel said Internet contract and received a response saying they’ll accept my special termination if I send them my re-registration form to prove I no longer live in their supply area. Unfortunately, I can’t do that until I actually have de-registered in Germany and registered in Switzerland (yes, the Swiss make you register as a resident as well!). So, not much progress has been made, but I have managed to cross two things off my list (cancel Internet and cancel Bahncard 100). Oh, and I’ve handed in my holiday form to make sure I can get the last week in April off to move – I’m just assuming we’ll actually have a flat to move into by that time! Even slow progress is progress, right?
Confuzzledom 
Yes, I am exhausted just from reading this! At least you have packed one box, which is a step in the right direction. 🙂
LOL, the other empty boxes are in the cellar and I’m too lazy to go down and fetch them 😉
My head feels spinny just reading this 😉
Think how I feel! 😉
My friend lived in Switzerland for a while. Said it was the most godawful place. Rules, rules, rules and no outlets for people to have fun. So they kill themselves. But I’m sure it will be fine for you 😉
Lovely, thanks for that 😉
I’m like a little ray of sunshine today 😉
You are. Who peed in your wine? 😉
I think even a German would have a hard time sitzpinkelling into a wine glass 😉
It would definitely need a planning meeting or something…
I’m very exhausted reading this! Sounds like a bloody nightmare – at least I know I won’t be moving to Switzerland any time soon! I hope you find a flat you like!
I expect it’s just as bad in the bigger cities in Britain – anywhere that lots of people want to live but there isn’t enough housing. I hope this is the last time we’ll be moving for a while, though!
I do not envy you! My Swiss experience was a bit easier, managed to find a flat relatively quickly and I moved out first leaving the fiancé to do all the packing and follow me a few months later. This was great for me but he left as ‘non-essential’ so many kitchen items I’ve annoying had to rebuy at three times the price (did you notice yet, that it’s a little pricey in Switzerland :)?). Good luck with the flat huntings, you’ll find one eventually. If things start getting really bad apparently pretending you are pregnant, and therefore unlikely to leave anytime soon, helps.
In our case, Jan is moving first and I get to be the one to finish the packing and follow. We’re hoping to send most of the big furniture with him in March though – I’ll just have to live without a couch for a month!
We’ve seen SO MANY flats that say “no children” in the ad, so the pretending could backfire 😉 Surely that’s discrimination?! I don’t really want to move again anytime soon, so hopefully we will be staying a while! Although if worst comes to worst we may just have to take any old place for a few months and carry on looking.
Lucky Jan! I lived with no more furniture than a fold out seat/mattress for first couple of weeks although did get furniture after that. I did pick a temporary place for my first couple of months in Geneva which did make my flat hunting easier and took the pressure off, and we didn’t move any furniture.
You’d never get away with a ‘no children’ policy in the UK. Although I did read in one flat contract that there was to be no noise after 11pm, no flushing of bathrooms,etc. although a child crying was allowed., as if you might be able to control that!
No flushing?! *Shudder*
We have to move everything! Jan’s new employer is paying for a removal company though, so we’re getting them to do almost everything in March then we’ll just take the few bits I keep once I move in April.
I know! But you’ll be pleased to know that isn’t everywhere, my place is much more relaxed. That’s good news with the removal company. And don’t worry about not having found somewhere yet, you’ve still got some time.
I’m not sure if you already know about them but http://www.homegate.ch, http://www.immoscout.ch, and http://www.anibis.ch are all good sites. We actually found our place through anibis.ch and connected with a great landlord without a stupid property management company. Don’t give up…you’ll find something!
I’ve been using the first two (plus immostreet and immowelt!), but anibis is a new one. Will check it out! Thanks 🙂
I definitely like the “slow progress is still progress” motto! I might need to post that above my computer at work – this winter weather is making me very slow.
Good idea to print it out and hang it somewhere. I keep repeating it to myself.
I do agree – slow progress is still progress. Like that idea. Sometimes it can feel like we haven’t gotten anywhere even though we have.
Baby steps, right? I do hope things start moving along more quickly soon though!
Ahhhh the joys of flat finding! I felt the same way when we had to commute into Moscow from the village – so frustrating when, by the time you’ve arrived, the fllat’so already gone. Best of luck! I hope this is your last weekend of searching!
Either already gone or they refuse to even let you look at it on the weekend. I can’t keep taking random afternoons off all the time! And next week Jan is away with work so he was like “you’re just going to have to find a way to get to Basel during office hours.” Right. Thanks.
Slow progress is definitely progress! I’m a firm believer in taking things slowly! Fingers crossed for a new flat soon, sounds like a tough market!
In one of the flats we looked at, the current tenant told us there aren’t enough flats for all the people that want one. Apparently Zurich is even worse than Basel – one of his friends looked for a YEAR before finding anything!
If we had an unlimited budget it would be easier, but we’ve already upped the rent we’re willing to pay twice and we just can’t afford any more
You’ll get there! Best wishes that you come across the perfect flat soon! xx
Thank you. We have seen some nice ones but it seems highly unlikely that anyone will choose us
It does sound exhausting but still seems like you are making progress so that’s always a good thing! Fingers crossed that you guys find something soon!
If we could manage to find a flat the rest will come together fairly quickly, I think. Spending every weekend in Basel means I don’t even have time for the rest!
Whew… sounds like you two definitely have your work cut out for you. You’ll find something though, dishwasher hopefully included! Packing is horrible, totally agree. I always have to get in the mood for that (or cleaning), and then I just bang it all out at once. I recommend a bottle of wine and a marathon of a favorite show or movies in the background. 🙂
If I’d known it wasn going to be this annoying I would have a) insisted on started to look in December and b) take a week off work just to go and look at flats! Now I have too much work to be able to spontaneously take any time off.
I feel your pain. Today, we were given 90 notice to vacate. 90 days is very considerate. BUT finding a place in Australia to meet our needs is pretty difficult as well. I need a minimum of 4 bedrooms, and I need them to allow pets. Viewings are at ridiculous times as well, applications are difficult, and things get leased immediately. Again, I feel your pain.
Oh no, that doesn’t sound fun either!
We’ve already terminated our current flat (you have to give 3 months notice), so I’m OUT at the end of April no matter what…
It sounds quite stressful and tiresome. We didn’t have too much trouble finding a place to stay in Belgium, we came over for a week and ended up taking a place that was advertised with the estate agents, instead of individual people that you had to call to ask for a visit. I do find that a little weird, just emailing or phoning a number…
Still, I will wish you more and more luck! And some energy!