How many times have you heard people talking about how wonderful it is that we live in such an international area as the Lake Geneva region? People are coming and going all the time - many plan to stay for just a few months, others inevitably stay longer, as they fall in love with a region that has so much to offer – not just to tourists, but visiting business professionals, and expats who have decided to make Switzerland their home.
Once the decision has been made to stay, be it for one week, several months, or even years, then it’s time to start looking for accommodation. A quick browse on the internet or through the local papers can be extremely helpful in identifying property to rent – however most of the properties advertised usually require long-term rental contracts or are not furnished. Even if you have decided to stay for a few years, many families, in particular, prefer to test the water first, by staying in a hotel until they have got the feel of the area. As time passes and suitable properties fail to materialize, costs can soon mount up.
20% Earlybird discount for tradespeople who sign up before end of April, 2014
A new website has just been launched to help homeowners in Switzerland find local tradesmen and artisans that they can trust.
Called TrustedArtisan.com, the website provides an online market place where homeowners can post a project online, receive quotes from tradespeople registered on the site, and then select a company to do the job, according to the quality of reviews posted by former clients. The service is free to homeowners, but artisans must pay an annual subscription to be listed on the site, and a small commission on any significant projects over Fr. 20K, undertaken as a result of being contacted through the site.
The idea for the new website came from James Amoah, a specialist in operations management at Kaleidoscope International, a niche supply chain and business solution consultancy, focused on finding innovative customer services for businesses. James told knowitall.ch, “The concept for TrustedArtisan.com came through my own personal frustration at having no immediate access to recommended artisans, nor any means to assess their performance or vent frustration when jobs were performed inadequately. When my wife, Sarah, and I talked to friends and work colleagues, we realised that we were not alone with these frustrations and things could be much better than they were.”
Who isn’t searching for a handyman to come in and fix, repair, or touch-up something? If you aren’t handy yourself, or don’t have the time, then this is just the kind of recommendation that you should note down. If you have just moved into a new place and need a washing machine, dishwasher or light fixtures to be installed, furniture to be assembled and curtain rails put up, or if you have been living in the same place for years, but have just noticed the hallway needs repainting or the flooring replaced, then Mike is the handyman to contact! With his website’s name, Hire my Husband, who wouldn’t want to find out more?
Mike will help you with carpentry, painting and decoration, installation of light fixtures, washing machines, dishwashers, assembly and installation of flat-pack furniture, flooring, basic electrical and plumbing fixing, hanging of flat screen TVs and picture frames, curtain rails, and more.
In short, if you are looking for quality service from someone who will care for your home and who is reliable at a competitive price, then Mike is the man for you. He can tackle any of those odd jobs that you can’t manage yourself or simply don’t have time to do.
That's it! The corrections are made and the new recommendations have been added on the 8th edition of Know-it-all passport® and it is on press at Imprimerie Nationale Rochat Baumann in Geneva right now! About 4 weeks of printing and 6 weeks of binding is what it takes during this 10 week-long process to bring you the quality item that you will keep on hand for the next two years. There are also two bookmarks on ribbons that are hand-inserted by a little old lady near Fribourg! Look out for it as of end-August this year in bookshops or pre-order via one of the distribution points for your copy hot-off-the-press!
Sporting the new blue color throughout, the cover is lifted with a touch of red as well. Click here to see the the evolution of the colors from the first edition.
See the photo competition winners and runners-up entries in our article.
Article written by Amy van den Dijssel
There may come a time when you leave Geneva. Many people come and go, but even those who may have had a tough time adjusting to the slower Geneva pace in the beginning, may be sad to leave. After seven happy years in Geneva, my husband was transferred to his company’s New Jersey office. Although I was excited to return to the US for a few years, I was also sad to leave. Geneva had become our home. We moved there with a 6 month old baby girl and left with two daughters, seven and five. Once I reconciled myself with the new adventure, I snapped into action mode. There are a lot of things that must be done before you leave Switzerland. As I watch two good friends follow in my footsteps this year (one to Singapore and one to Korea), I decided to put together this list:
