Apartment search services · Stallikon
SwissNest Relocation is a founder-run apartment search and relocation service for the Zurich area, with published pay-per-use prices and help from first viewing to settling in.
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SwissNest Relocation is a small apartment search and relocation service for the Zurich area, run by Anna and Andy Gruenwald, a family of four who have moved countries themselves. Anna has lived in Zurich since 2009 after living in six countries, and Andy arrived in 2018 after working in Berlin and Frankfurt. The couple first built Comfort Apartments, a furnished-apartment business, and later added SwissNest, so they deal with property managers and landlords from the owner's side too. Legally, the service runs through Comfort Apartments KLG, the general partnership of the two founders with its seat in Stallikon.
The focus is the rental market in and around Zurich, where vacant flats are extremely rare and a good apartment can draw dozens of applications within days. SwissNest Relocation starts with your budget, commute, preferred districts, flat size and move-in date, then checks the big portals, property managers and relocation networks every day and sends you a shortlist to approve. Anna or Andy book the viewings, go with you or in your place if you are still abroad, film or photograph the flat and file the application.
Much of the real work is the application. Zurich landlords expect a complete dossier, usually in German: their form, proof of income, ID, your permit if you already have one, employer references and a Betreibungsauszug from the debt collection register, and many look for an income of about three times the rent. SwissNest prepares this file so your job and finances come across clearly, keeps following up with the agency after the viewing, goes through the lease with you and can be there at the key handover.
Once you have the keys, hourly relocation support covers the next steps: registering at the Kreisbüro or Gemeinde within 14 days, preparing for the permit appointment, choosing basic health insurance within three months, opening a bank account, setting up internet, electricity and the TV licence, schools and childcare, the driving licence exchange, and making sense of official letters in German. Anna knows the lakeside districts and towns south of the city well, from Enge and Wollishofen to Kilchberg and Thalwil, while Andy covers north Zurich, including Oerlikon and Wallisellen, and further out towards Baden.
SwissNest also supports professionals and companies looking to rent practices, offices and other business premises. Its flexible pay-per-use approach suits people moving without a company relocation package. The first 20-minute call is free, and Anna and Andy are available in the evenings and at weekends.
SwissNest Relocation builds a search profile around your budget, districts, commute, flat size and move date, then checks the major portals, property managers and relocation networks every day, occasionally including off-market flats. Suitable listings arrive in a shared document for you to approve; the founders book the viewings, attend with you or on your behalf and send photos or video of each flat.
Before the first viewing, SwissNest assembles your German-language application: the landlord's form, proof of income, ID, your residence permit if you have one, employer references and the debt register extract (Betreibungsauszug). They present your job and finances clearly, submit the file and keep in touch with the agency afterwards, which matters when a flat has dozens of applicants.
When your application is accepted, SwissNest goes through the rental contract with you, coordinates the signatures and prepares the move-in. With the optional handover support, they join the key handover so the condition of the flat is properly documented in the handover protocol, which helps later when the deposit is settled at move-out.
Billed by the hour, this covers what comes after the keys: registration at the Kreisbüro or Gemeinde within 14 days, preparing for the permit appointment, basic health insurance within three months, a Swiss bank account, internet, mobile, electricity and TV licence, schools and childcare, driving licence exchange and vehicle registration, and help reading official letters in German. They can also come along to selected appointments.
For buyers, SwissNest sets an acquisition strategy, monitors the market daily, evaluates properties, attends viewings with you or for you and handles communication with sellers and brokers. They support the negotiation and coordinate lawyers, notaries and mortgage advisers until the purchase contract is signed, and they help you settle in afterwards.
Professionals looking for a practice and companies needing an office or other commercial space get a similar service: a leasing or purchase strategy, market monitoring including off-market opportunities where available, viewings, negotiation with landlords, sellers and brokers, and coordination with lawyers and banks until the lease or purchase agreement is signed.
SwissNest Relocation publishes its prices. Rental apartment search: CHF 99 for each viewing, plus a success fee of one monthly rent (the net rent, according to their terms) once you sign a lease, with a minimum success fee of CHF 2,490. This includes the search strategy, daily market monitoring, shortlisting, viewings, the application, communication with property managers, lease review and settling-in help after the move. Optional extras: handover support for CHF 299 and relocation support at CHF 99 per hour. Buying a home: CHF 99 per viewing plus a success fee on the purchase price of 1.5% up to CHF 1.5 million, 1.25% from CHF 1.5 to 2.5 million, 1% from CHF 2.5 to 4 million and 0.75% above that, minimum CHF 15,000. Business premises: CHF 99 per viewing plus a 3% success fee when you buy or lease, minimum CHF 20,000. The first consultation is free and without obligation.
English, German, Russian
SwissNest Relocation helps people moving to or within the Zurich area find and secure an apartment. The founders shortlist flats, attend viewings, prepare a strong German application dossier and deal with property managers until the lease is signed. After the move they offer hourly relocation support, and they also help with buying homes and finding business premises.
Rental search costs CHF 99 per viewing plus one monthly rent when you sign a lease, with a minimum success fee of CHF 2,490. Handover support is CHF 299 and other relocation help CHF 99 per hour. Purchases are charged CHF 99 per viewing plus 0.75% to 1.5% of the price, minimum CHF 15,000. The first consultation is free.
Yes. If you are not yet in Zurich or cannot get away from work, Anna or Andy attend the viewing for you, document the flat with photos or video and submit your application. You choose which flats to view from a shortlist, so you stay in control while the legwork happens locally.
The focus is the city of Zurich and the surrounding region. Anna knows the lakeside areas south of the city, such as Enge, Wollishofen, Kilchberg, Thalwil, Rüschlikon and Horgen, while Andy covers north Zurich, including Oerlikon and Wallisellen, and places further out such as Baden and Lucerne. The business address is in Stallikon.
Yes. Hourly support at CHF 99 covers registration with your municipality within 14 days, permit appointments, basic health insurance, bank accounts, utilities, schools and childcare, driving licence exchange and explaining official letters in German. Some clients need only a few hours, others several weeks of help.
Book a free 20-minute consultation through the online calendar on their website, email hello@swissnest-relocation.ch, or call or WhatsApp +41 76 341 68 06. The founders also answer in the evenings, at weekends and on holidays. The postal address is Langfurenstrasse 20, 8143 Stallikon.
Apartment search servicesDestination servicesSettling-in support
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