the hunt is on
Our apartment hunt has been a source of stress ever since we arrived. Everyone had warned us about it - that it would be exhausting, that we would need to jump through bureaucratic hoops, that even if we found a place we liked, we would not necessarily get it.
So far J and I have short listed two places: Apartment 1 that I wrote about previously, and another place that is a bit smaller that I'll refer to as Apartment 2.
Apartment 1 is huge - 230m2 - and has a great panoramic view of the city and the mountains. I like the neighborhood because it's within walking distance to the supermarket, a pharmacy, some small cafes, and small playgrounds. It's quiet, green, and private. There's even a small organic farm next to the playground where you can buy veggies, and a small field with horses in it. And even though there's so much nature at its doorstep, it's not an isolated neighborhood. It's a six minute drive to J's office and a fifteen minute drive to The Bun's school, and it's pretty close to the city centre as well. The cherry on top is the big rooftop garden and communal pools (one for kids and the other for adults) just one flight of stairs above us. That would definitely be a perk during the summer.
However, all this doesn't come cheap. This is the most expensive apartment we have viewed and while it is within the budget we have been given, it doesn't leave a lot of money for furniture. While I do want to have a nice-looking place, I'm also trying to keep in mind that we will be here only for three years and we're unlikely to ship any furniture back, so there's also not much point in buying expensive furniture. I draw the line at mattresses though - that sort of thing, you pay for what you get and if we're going to be huddled indoors during the cold months I would want a nice bed to be in for that!
Apartment 1's size can also be a disadvantage. So much more space to clean and it seems like whatever furniture we would get would just look so small in that huge space. There's a fine line between 'minimalist' and 'bare', not that minimalist is even achievable in a home with two young children whose belongings outnumber their parents.
Apartment 2 is located a bit further away but still within walking distance to the shops and a park with a playground in it. It's smaller than Apartment 1 (most places are) but not cramp. I don't have much issues with the apartment itself but I don't quite like the neighborhood, which is a bit rougher, and its general location in terms of both work and school. Taking public transport to town is also a bit more of a pain. However, it's also about 30% cheaper than Apartment 1, which gives us a bit more leeway in terms of furniture costs.
So: big apartment in good surroundings with cheap furniture or a smaller one in not-so-nice surroundings with better (and more) furniture? I guess that judging from the number of words I have spent describing each place, it is clear which place J and I really want. We just need to go over it again and again to make sure our choice is the right one.
As I write this, we are waiting for our application for Apartment 1 to be accepted. I don't know why people keep talking about Swiss efficiency because their bureaucratic processes are very slow and complicated. Maybe they are only referring to things like engineering or watch-making. We also applied for another place but it was snapped up before we could take it, and another apartment went off the market before we could even view it. Not much to choose from here, as I was warned.
In the meantime, I have been going to furniture shops with The Bun while J is at work to shortlist the furniture that we may get, since I will probably depart before we close on the apartment. Anyway even getting furniture from Ikea and its competitors takes time - unlike Singapore, where you can expect your furniture to be delivered within the next couple of days after you buy it, here it can take an average of two weeks or more to arrive, and maybe four working days if you are lucky. This applies even if you bring the item home in a box to assemble it yourself.
J and I are kind of stressed out about the whole housing situation, but then again the other expats say it's all part of the initiation into living here. I just hope we have a working household by the time the kids and I return here in July. It doesn't have to have all the bells and whistles, but there should be a place to sleep, to sit, to eat.
Waiting with fingers crossed for good news to come by phone or email soon. I feel like I haven't exhaled for the last few days.
So far J and I have short listed two places: Apartment 1 that I wrote about previously, and another place that is a bit smaller that I'll refer to as Apartment 2.
Apartment 1 is huge - 230m2 - and has a great panoramic view of the city and the mountains. I like the neighborhood because it's within walking distance to the supermarket, a pharmacy, some small cafes, and small playgrounds. It's quiet, green, and private. There's even a small organic farm next to the playground where you can buy veggies, and a small field with horses in it. And even though there's so much nature at its doorstep, it's not an isolated neighborhood. It's a six minute drive to J's office and a fifteen minute drive to The Bun's school, and it's pretty close to the city centre as well. The cherry on top is the big rooftop garden and communal pools (one for kids and the other for adults) just one flight of stairs above us. That would definitely be a perk during the summer.
However, all this doesn't come cheap. This is the most expensive apartment we have viewed and while it is within the budget we have been given, it doesn't leave a lot of money for furniture. While I do want to have a nice-looking place, I'm also trying to keep in mind that we will be here only for three years and we're unlikely to ship any furniture back, so there's also not much point in buying expensive furniture. I draw the line at mattresses though - that sort of thing, you pay for what you get and if we're going to be huddled indoors during the cold months I would want a nice bed to be in for that!
Apartment 1's size can also be a disadvantage. So much more space to clean and it seems like whatever furniture we would get would just look so small in that huge space. There's a fine line between 'minimalist' and 'bare', not that minimalist is even achievable in a home with two young children whose belongings outnumber their parents.
Apartment 2 is located a bit further away but still within walking distance to the shops and a park with a playground in it. It's smaller than Apartment 1 (most places are) but not cramp. I don't have much issues with the apartment itself but I don't quite like the neighborhood, which is a bit rougher, and its general location in terms of both work and school. Taking public transport to town is also a bit more of a pain. However, it's also about 30% cheaper than Apartment 1, which gives us a bit more leeway in terms of furniture costs.
So: big apartment in good surroundings with cheap furniture or a smaller one in not-so-nice surroundings with better (and more) furniture? I guess that judging from the number of words I have spent describing each place, it is clear which place J and I really want. We just need to go over it again and again to make sure our choice is the right one.
As I write this, we are waiting for our application for Apartment 1 to be accepted. I don't know why people keep talking about Swiss efficiency because their bureaucratic processes are very slow and complicated. Maybe they are only referring to things like engineering or watch-making. We also applied for another place but it was snapped up before we could take it, and another apartment went off the market before we could even view it. Not much to choose from here, as I was warned.
In the meantime, I have been going to furniture shops with The Bun while J is at work to shortlist the furniture that we may get, since I will probably depart before we close on the apartment. Anyway even getting furniture from Ikea and its competitors takes time - unlike Singapore, where you can expect your furniture to be delivered within the next couple of days after you buy it, here it can take an average of two weeks or more to arrive, and maybe four working days if you are lucky. This applies even if you bring the item home in a box to assemble it yourself.
J and I are kind of stressed out about the whole housing situation, but then again the other expats say it's all part of the initiation into living here. I just hope we have a working household by the time the kids and I return here in July. It doesn't have to have all the bells and whistles, but there should be a place to sleep, to sit, to eat.
Waiting with fingers crossed for good news to come by phone or email soon. I feel like I haven't exhaled for the last few days.