I am little anxious for my french is limited, for this being first "real" job, and that I would have to find an apt for the first time without roommates. -> I would like a 2 bedroom apt. near downtown.
I really hope that you would share your experience in international moving. And would appreciate any kind of advice regarding EVERYTHING! (Apt searching, furniture buying, car leasing, int.mover hiring...)
In order to give you a perspective on my situation, my contract pays 170k (secure for next 5yrs) and it will cover moving expenses+travel up to 20k CHF.
What would you do?
1. I would buy furniture here (Boston) and have them ship it all to Lausanne because it's cheaper and more convenient to find and buy furniture in the US.
2. I wouldn't bother w/ furniture shipping cause it would be too much of a headache (ie failed door-to-door service, i would have to deal with the customs.. i dont know how often that happens though)
3. I wouldn't bother w/ furniture shipping cause furniture in Swiss isn't that much more expensive than the US and delivery services exists and won't cost you an arm and a leg (I prefer no IKEA though).
4. I wouldn't bother w/ furniture shipping cause there are abundant furnished housings.
Thanks in advance for reading.
Really, ALL kinds of responses would help me a lot.
I'd choose option #1. Crate and Barrel is rock bottom cheap by comparison and if the company is paying the freight, go for it. You could also choose #4, but most of those are...underwhelming. There's no residence inn around these parts and you wouldn't want to live there for 5 years anyway.
BTW - 170k here is like 100k in Boston. It'll do, but not exactly living large. I used to live in Boston and still gasp at the grocery prices.
I don't think this was the point. The point is if you need 100k in Boston you need 170k in Switzerland for an equivalent lifestyle. Basically your money won't go as far.
Hello I'm an old lady, but I'll help if I can if you're anywhere near Avenue des Mousquines.
I'll hang about, waiting for stuff to turn up...................just so long as there's a cup of coffee possible. I don't need paying., I'll just sew pink fluffy hearts on everything and eat all your food if you keep me waiting too long.
The only problem with buying furniture in Boston & moving it to Lausanne is you won't know what size, type of apartment you are going to get. Since finding house is difficult already, you don't want to be limited in choice by your furniture.
Now if you get the apt then go back and buy furniture that would be different. Of course, the furniture wouldn't be 6 months old and thus subject to tax.
Buy everything in the US and ship it here if the company is paying. With 170k you won't have a problem finding an apartment in Lausanne (especially if you are single).
@ceppych: aww i heart hearts, too! we shall tea! thanks!
@minimia: my plan is to buy everything small! but you are right, it would be ideal to see the place first. My job starts in Jan 2012, when should i go over there to look for the apt? I am thinking August for Dec move-in date. would that be too late/early? thanks!
@terco: im in high tech stuff. i ll be moving alone but my bf would be visiting often. i am hoping to find a 2 bedroom apt but would you know what it is in "piece"? thanks!
If you are looking to move in on the 1st of December, August is probably a bit early. Just keep in mind fewer people move in December and January. So you'll find more for 1st of December and then 1st of February, with a few exceptions here and there for 15 Dec or 15 Jan.
A piece is a room not including bathroom or kitchen. So a 3 pcs is generally a 2 bedroom apartment with a living/dining room. You should poke around the site. It's loaded with information and answers to those types of questions.
You really need to see what type place you will have before investng in bringing a whole load of furniture here. Most american furniture is on the larger side and a lot won't fit in the apts. here. Add to this that they may not even get up the stairway to see if they fit in the apt. Also, customs will nail you if you haven't owned for at least 6 months.
As for searching for apt., the earlier the better and if you company pays for a relocation expert, take it. Lausanne is increasingly difficult to find a place to live.
We moved to Lausanne a couple of weeks ago and I am kicking myself for not buying more furniture before we left the UK. It is expensive here, no matter what your salary is it will still hurt to pay over the odds for something you know is way cheaper back in the US. You will spend the first few weeks thinking "how much??!!??".
If you arrive in January it will be cold, wet and you will want to be in the mountains with your new friends skiing not trawling furniture shops. Will you have a car over here immediately? If not you will be doing the trawling on public transport which isn't easy when some furniture places are on the edge of town and it is raining. Don't forget too that shops only open on a saturday.
If you hate Ikea, as I do, just finding decent shops will take time. And then you may have to wait 2/3 months for the furniture to be delivered. Plus you will be negotiating this in French.
Judging by your salary your company should give you a healthy move budget. Which means, with the greatest of respect, it ain't your problem getting your furniture in your apartment. Don't go crazy buying big stuff and stick with a small double bed and you should have no problem fitting the stuff in your apartment. We have just moved into our 11th home since graduating college and I have only had one item of furniture not fit somewhere. Buy the same wood for all your stuff, eg. Fruit wood, or oak then it will not look too out of place in another room. The woods in Switzerland are warm so you can't go wrong with a walnut, cherry to blend in.
Forgot to add, a moving budget of 20k should cover you for a very good relocation agent who will completely take the hassle out of finding you an apartment. I flew over for one day, they had 7 houses lined up to view, I picked the one I liked and they did the rest. The relocation agents have deals with the property agents so it shouldn't be too hard to get an apartment you like. Good luck!
Well if IKEA is out the window then you probably are needing to bring your things over.
But as mentioned European apartments are not the same as USA apartments in terms of size. So the USA furniture might be out of scale and shall I say 'look' too?
When I came over in 1985 I got an apartment in Pully and went to IKEA and purchased my furniture needs from there, based on my apartments room sizes.
It depends if your furniture in Boston are quite new or no. I lived 6 years in Lausanne, and If you want to buy new furniture for a 2.5 apt, you don't need more than 5000-7000 frs . the average surface of a 2.5 apt is 70 m2. So you can make the calculation
P.S. I'm wondering how old are you since your salary is only 170k in high tech!!
Me too! Can I send you my CV in case you are looking for assistants? ( I am cheap, a mere 150k would do the trick )
A 2 bedroom apt is perfect for a couple. In Vaud the living room counts as a piece and in Geneva the kitchen counts as one too. So if you are looking for 2 bedrooms you need a 3 (or 3.5) piece in Vaud or a 4 (or 4.5) piece in Geneva.
As always, there is a wide range of two bedroom apts. You can find rundown 60m2 apts in big gray buildings built in the 70s (around 1.5kCHF), nice and fully renovated 100m2 apts in ancient buildings (3k) and sleek modern apts in an all glass building (4k). This is of course, a very crude approximation, some people have more luck than others when looking for accommodation.
You won't have a problem with your salary, it only depends on how you want to spend your money.
I would definitely advise to have something with a .5 option. Because saloons are calculated as 1.5 room and without a saloon it's even hard to put your 50' TV
Btw, good luck with the move, you have a lot to learn in Switzerland and French is not the biggest issue in here