Service — Home Search
Home search that wins the apartment.
In Zurich, Geneva and Zug, good apartments draw 100+ applications within hours — and a growing share — an estimated 15% — rents off-market before it is ever listed. A relocation agent brings off-market access and a landlord-ready Swiss dossier — the difference between being passed over applying alone and actually getting the keys.
Start your home search →<1%
Rental vacancy in the major hubs
4–8 wks
Typical time to keys with professional help
CHF 2,500+
Typical home-search package
01 — How it works
Home Search, step by step.
01 — Brief & search profile
Budget, neighbourhoods, commute, must-haves. The agent builds a shortlist strategy against real availability.
02 — Off-market sourcing
Agencies tap landlord and management-company networks to see flats before they hit Homegate or Flatfox.
03 — Accompanied viewings
In-person or video viewings, often grouped into one efficient day — with someone who reads the lease and the building.
04 — Landlord-ready dossier
A complete Swiss application: debt-collection extract, employer confirmation, references — presented the way landlords expect.
05 — Contract & handover
Lease review, deposit account, and the move-in inventory (Übergabeprotokoll) so you are not liable for old damage.
Free · quotes within one business day · no obligation
02 — What you get
What’s included.
- ✓Search profile & neighbourhood strategy
- ✓Access to off-market and pre-market listings
- ✓Accompanied or virtual viewings
- ✓Landlord-ready application dossier
- ✓Lease review & terms negotiation
- ✓Move-in handover & inventory protocol
03 — Typical cost
What it costs.
| Package | Typical price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Search only | from CHF 2,500 | Sourcing + a curated shortlist; you attend viewings yourself. |
| Standard home search | CHF 3,500–6,000 | Accompanied viewings, dossier and lease support through to keys. |
| Full attendance / family | CHF 6,000–9,000+ | End-to-end, multiple viewing days, negotiation and handover managed for you. |
Prices are typical market ranges — request competing offers to see exact quotes for your situation.
04 — Common questions
Home Search
What does home search cost?
Basic search-only packages start around CHF 2,500; standard home search runs CHF 3,500–6,000, and full-attendance or family packages CHF 6,000–9,000+. Request offers to compare exact prices.
What is off-market access?
A large share of Swiss rentals are filled through agency and landlord networks before they are ever listed publicly. Agencies with local relationships see and present these first.
Can an agency really improve my odds?
Yes — a foreigner applying alone without a Swiss dossier is routinely passed over in the tight hubs. A complete, correctly formatted dossier plus off-market flow is exactly what moves you to the front.
How long does it take?
With professional help, four to eight weeks from brief to keys is typical in Zurich, Zug and Geneva — faster than most people manage alone, and far less stressful.
Preferred partners
Vetted agencies strong in home search — reviewed by real clients.
Zug · 69 reviews
“From the beginning, our experience with Prime Relocation was exceptional. Julie worked tirelessly on our behalf to find exactly th…”
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Geneva · 30 reviews
“Our experience with Lodge finding a new home in Switzerland was really nice. Virginie support us with everything we needed during …”
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Geneva · 18 reviews
“Notre société a été amenée à travailler à plusieurs reprises avec Welcome Service. Nous ne pouvons que recommander cette entrepris…”
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Zurich · 116 reviews
“I can only say the best about Mireille from Auris. She was very patient, ready to quickly answer every question and to provide val…”
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Zurich · 21 reviews
“A big thank you to Karin for taking the time to guide me through the relocation process and for sharing valuable tips on settling …”
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Steinhausen · 12 reviews
“Proactive, trustworthy, excellent service. Thanks! Roberto…”
View & get a quote →05 — Read next
Related guides.
06 — Where you’re moving