I am moving into an unfurnished property soon and I am a bit worried I'll forget to do something before the "big date". The company covers all bills apart from internet.
So my to-do list so far related to the new place is vaguely follows:
1) Order furniture and related stuff (this is quite obvious)
2) Sort the internet out
3) Insurance
4) Change address for accounts/register at new place
Is there anything you would recommend that I missed out?
Also, for insurance do you recommend anything else apart from personal liability and household contents? Am I right in guessing that if anything was to happen to the property not by my fault (e.g. natcat, fire), that would be covered by the landlord's insurance?
change address with anybody, specially health insurance (could become cheaper ) electricity supplier (so he reads your meter on the correct day).
Most important: Write a detailed "Mängelrüge" (notice of defects) of the new flat, send it by registered mail to landlord or management. Put any trivial thing on it. Don't rush with it - take the ten days - put the list somewhere where you can add what ever you see (I once saw a defect only when lying in the bath tub ) and don't lose the copy no matter how long you live in the new flat.
Don't feel shy about sending it, it's the thing to do and the thing most expats don't. (Who knows if EF still exists when you move out of there. )
Do each thing as soon as you can: many notifications can be done in advance via Internet before the actual change of address, you just specify the date of the move.
It provides members with free legal advice about any matters to do with tenancy, and really doesn't cost a lot. I would not recommend renting, in Switzerland, without membership.
I'm not so convinced of this point, actually. Swiss rental properties have some things included that may not be so in other countries - such as a fridge, for example. Also, the light will fall differently from anywhere else, and you might find that the furniture which seems right for you, in the part of the world you know now, won't exactly work, here, in the actual space available.
Do you have a floor-plan, so you can measure items? Have you checked the stairwell and lift, if any, to be sure that things will fit?
I urge this caution because, over and over again, we see people immigrating and then not needing quite a bit of what they'd brought along.