Relocation to Switzerland
Relocating to Switzerland - A Business-Friendly Country
Whether for quality of life, business-friendly commercial services, or innovation and ingenuity, Switzerland is consistently rated as one of the best places in the world to live. And no wonder – it’s a country of great natural beauty that is also well-run and efficient. The downside is it’s quite expensive. Zurich, which is where Dwellworks sees our largest volume of requests for relocation assistance, is a major corporate hub – and also one of the costliest cities in the world. Some of the world’s best-known companies in finance, manufacturing, biotechnology, and information technology have offices here, and salaries typically reflect the professional and executive talent relocated to this region.
The cost of rentals in Zürich is on the rise, but new construction is expected soon to ease some of the city’s historic imbalance in supply and demand. More affordable housing can be found in suburbs which are easily accessed by excellent public transportation systems. Standard practice in Zurich and across Switzerland is to engage with an agency or housing office, instead of directly with a landlord, when finding a rental home. Having these contacts is essential for a successful home search here. Dwellworks Destination Consultants have expert knowledge of the local property market due to their daily contact with property managers, agents, and landlords and they know who to contact to preview a listing and secure a viewing appointment.
An added bonus for the employees we assist: many of our Destination Consultants speak all three official languages used in Switzerland (German, French, and Italian). As a result, our Consultants make this potentially complex process much simpler.
Area Orientation: Every employee wants to know more about the place they are moving to, whether it’s previewing neighborhood rental options, calculating commute times, or understanding the available community activities and hot spots. Our Destination Consultants always start the service experience with “How can I help?” and then put their local expertise to work with information, exploration, and guidance that aligns with your employee’s priorities.
Rental Home Finding Assistance: Our Consultants are experts in matching property solutions to employee budgets, requirements, and expectations, and are also a resource for understanding local leasing practices and landlord processes. After sourcing suitable housing, scheduling viewing appointments, and discussing the advantages and disadvantages of possible options, our Consultants help employees submit rental applications to give them the best chance of being selected as the preferred tenant.
Settling-in Services: Our Destination Consultants guide the employee through the full settling-in process, including support with key services like social insurance registration, banking services introductions, driver’s license application, and health care guidance. If the family has children, we also assist with school explanations, registration, and tours.
Departure services: Clients authorize this service when they are looking for end-of-assignment support for their employees. Our Destination Consultants advise on rental property termination, final property inspections, and the steps employees should follow to ensure a successful refund of their security deposit.
We check-in with the employee throughout their destination services experience via system-generated Pulse Checks to ensure we are meeting their expectations – and can quickly course-correct if needed. It is important to us that we provide exceptional service at all times. Visit our Destination Services page to learn about our end-to-end solutions and support.
Happy Customers
We are proud to earn the respect and admiration of the employees we assist. Here is some of our favourite feedback received from satisfied employees:
Our Local Experts Cover All of Switzerland
Dwellworks pairs each relocating employee with an empathetic and experienced Destination Consultant who lives in or near the employee’s new city and knows everything there is to know about that destination location – or knows where to find the answer. Our local experts are also well-versed in the nuances of the relocation process; many of them have been through the moving experience themselves.
Using our online service platform called myDwellworks®, our local Consultant connects with the employee long before their arrival in Switzerland to establish a relationship, understand the employee’s priorities, and begin conducting personalized research. Consultants are familiar with neighborhood differences, school district boundaries, and the local cost of living to aid your employees in securing a rental home that meets their needs.
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Consultants are also the go-to for any other assistance or recommendations needed by your employees. Whether it’s identifying the closest bank, understanding the healthcare system, finding a market for fresh produce, or getting recommendations for nearby restaurants, parks, or the best chocolate shops, Dwellworks Destination Consultants will have the answer.
With Consultants in Zürich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, and all of the cities that relocating employees want to live, we cover all major corporate hub locations. We can also assist in less traditional relocation markets. With knowledge of local laws, schools, and housing prices covering every province, Dwellworks virtual Consultants can assist with moves to any location in Switzerland.
So, whether the move is in a city center or in the villages at the base of the Alps, our Consultants can provide area overviews and introductions, assist in the housing search, coordinate settling-in services, and offer access to other helpful guides through our myDwellworks® platform – with the continued guarantee of that personal touch.
Technology Supports Every Move
Whether employees are looking for local trusted guidance pre-arrival, tips throughout their program, or neighborhood info and local favorites 3 months later, look no further than myDwellworks®.
Our easy-to-use online resource offers insights for successfully navigating a new location, from learning about neighborhoods, to viewing housing styles, to ‘How To’ guides for completing important tasks – all available 24/7.
myDwellworks® is also a convenient communication platform for the employee and their Destination Consultant to send and retrieve messages, ask questions, and share and comment on properties.
And the best part? Flexibility to access the portal on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone with content not only available in 100+ languages but also for a full year after program initiation!
A Language Map of Switzerland
The principal languages spoken in Switzerland are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. German is the most widely spoken language, used by more than 60% of the population. German-speaking Switzerland includes cities such as Zürich, Basel, and Bern. French is the local language in Geneva and surrounding cities. Italian is spoken in the canton of Ticino (Lombardy) on the border with Italy, and Romansh is the language of alpine Graubünden, the canton that is home to St. Moritz. German, French and Italian all share the status of ‘official’ languages and English is also commonly used across Switzerland.
Dwellworks Consultants are familiar with every language in Switzerland, including English. Their ability to translate is a benefit for clear and efficient communication between expatriates and leasing agents, landlords, and officials. They can also refer expats to instructional language classes that will help them with immersion into their new destination culture. Additional resources can also be found in our destination portal myDwellworks.
Other Dwellworks Services Available in Switzerland
Intercultural Training
Dwellworks offers an array of Intercultural Training solutions which can be delivered pre-arrival or once settled in.
This vital service offers cultural tips and training to help employees and families acclimate faster to their new culture and feel more comfortable in their new location. Click below to learn more about Intercultural Training.
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Temporary Accommodations
Have employees traveling for business, on a short-term assignment, or needing an interim housing solution prior to their final move?
We have you covered with convenient, fully furnished temporary accommodations solutions to meet all these needs and more. Click below to check out Dwellworks Living and our corporate housing solutions.