Ok, here is the deal. I am annoyed. It is not Wincasa's fault, and it would be easier to blame them, but I won't. Yet, I am still annoyed. Allow me to explain.We handed in our notice to Wincasa about... oh 8 weeks ago now. Yes, we have a four month notice period with our current apartment. I would say that is INSANE... but really it is BEYOND INSANE, although I have heard of some notices that can only be given on the night of a full moon when the temperature is 24 degrees. Ok, not really, but I have heard of some where you can only give notice like in September or May, or two months of the year. I know - INSANE. Anyway, so we have known for awhile that we would be leaving the apartment, and so has Wincasa.
And when they confirmed our notification, they wrote a nice line in the letter about how great it would be if we could 'cooperate' in terms of them finding a new tenant. Sure, ok, no worries. I will cooperate. You wanna show someone around - go ahead - you have a key...
Oh, what? You don't have a key?
Oh... I see... I will just leave it in the mailbox and you can show them on in. That's cool. I trust you. I know where you live.
Um... oh... what's that? You require that we are here when you show people our apartment? Ok - so you don't require but you prefer that we are here? Oh, I see. So you want me to be here while strange people go through my fridge and peruse my underwear drawer and why don't I show them the washer and dryer in the basement, too...??!! Sure... ok... COME ON DOWN...
So I have complied with this little ruse and I have made myself available for not one but TWO open nights so far in which I sit here and watch people go through my home and shake their head about how it just won't work... or get all excited about the place, but knowing in the end that ultimately no contracts have come. I know it is not my place and I should not be attached - but hell, it is my place right now and I should not have to witness this abuse.
Then I get another email today... "Um, no contracts yet... when can we come again?"
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Does anyone else think that this is insane? I know that this is how things are run in Switzerland and like no one owns their own home but why do they have to make it so no one can own their own privacy too!? Of course I will do the right thing and say come on over with bells on next week so that I can watch some more strangers make mental notes of all the things they would like to steal or how there is no way they would put the TV in that location... but I am only doing it because I like the Wincasa lady and she complimented my gourds... the quickest way to my heart, I tell ya. But I still say that I just wish it were like Boston where the apartment is showed during the day when I am at work or after I move out perhaps?! ERRRRRRR.
So... if you want a great 4 1/2 by Swiss standards apartment in the roof in a quiet neighborhood in Urdorf, just say the word. I will personally show you around... not because I want to though... but because I am a sucker that cannot say no to a lady that knows a good pumpkin when she sees one...
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11 comments:
Sigh. Poor you. Now being the Apartment Giver (not Seeker) is not so easy. I've always thought being the Seeker was difficult. Are you paying the Wincasa lady? I don't know how these things work; don't housing agents get a cut or something? And here I am, thinking apartments go up to others in a snap. What are these people being picky about? I would grab it...
That sucks. I've heard these horror stories before from other people. Hang in there. I'm surprised it's taking so long...I thought Zurich had like a 1% vacancy.
Well, because we live in Urdorf in the roof apartment I think we have less interest... lots of slanty walls and in the middle of a nice quiet suburb and everyone wants to live in Zürich central!
Sorry to hear of your troubles. Hope someone takes it soon and you have some peace!
I just landed on your great blog. Love the posts. Do keep blogging when you get to Oz. Life in Perth will certainly be different from Zürich. Hotter, for a start. But you will once again live under blue skies, not grey and dab. The people will certainly be friendlier and easier going. AND we DO speak some sort of English, down here. Have a great trip and keep blogging in Oz.
oh dear, so sorry to hear that... :(.. i once had an apartment with wincasa and it was hell too.. did you put it up on other online platforms? that really helps... like homegate, immscout... or even on ronorp or so?
XXX Rina
Wait, you're leaving? Where was that post? Dang nabit, you have a great site. I will miss it. But then again, I believe we will be leaving at the end of December when my contract is up. Good luck!
Thanks, Westy... the post was a few days before this one... had another apartment showing last night, only 2 people came and they were not very interested... darn slanty walls. It gets them every time.
Hope it gets better. We were questioning things here as well. As a renter, you have no rights and should not know where you are going to live next and must give notice way ahead of time. What's up with that!!!
As with us, I do hope things just fall into place for you. I'm still sad to know you are leaving but new adventures are surely on the way.
Great looking place you have. I'd take it!
Hi Jessica,
Is your place still available? I am very interested. Does the landlord accept pets? I have one 30pound dog.
Sorry to see you go, your blog is great.
Kind regards,
Sue
Here is the apartment on Homegate if you are interested, Sue. Feel free to contact Frau Fehr directly to see if it is still available... I have not heard that it is gone yet, so I assume you can come by for a look when we have the next viewing.
Best,
Jessica
http://www.homegate.ch/homegate/detail?lang=de&advertisementid=103095741&level1=Mieten&level2=Mietobjekte%20suchen&level3=Suchen
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