Expat Services Zurich

A Specialized Relocation Service for Zurich and Beyond

Expat Services Zurich, operating under the brand name RelEx, is a dedicated relocation firm focused on serving international professionals, families, and companies moving to Switzerland. The business is based in Andelfingen (Altweg 30a, CH-8450 Andelfingen) but serves primarily Zurich, Lucerne, and Zug. The firm explicitly targets "individuals relocating to Switzerland," families, and companies relocating international employees, emphasizing that consultants bring "first-hand experience of living abroad" combined with local Swiss knowledge.

The firm's positioning is built on flexibility and personalization: clients "choose only the support you truly need, nothing more, nothing less." This appeal to customization is reinforced by the process: an initial online call to understand "your personal situation and preferences," followed by tailored service rather than a one-size-fits-all package. The result, according to the firm, is "focused, efficient assistance ensuring a smooth transition."

What Services Expat Services Zurich Provides

The core relocation services are home search and rental assistance, help with local registrations and permits, and orientation and settling-in support. Beyond these basics, the firm offers welcome tours through neighborhoods in the canton of your choice to help orient you to the area before moving. Temporary housing support is available for people arriving without a permanent apartment yet. Full home-search service includes "identifying suitable properties, arranging viewings, and handling every step of the search process."

Administration support covers registration with local authorities, residence permits, and local documentation, "all essential administrative steps" ensuring "nothing is overlooked." The site notes this is "overwhelming for newcomers" unfamiliar with Swiss procedures. Schooling support helps families navigate "school options, public, private, or international, to find the best fit for your child," plus assistance in finding local leisure activities and family-friendly programs.

For people leaving Switzerland, the firm offers departure services: terminating rental contracts, organizing professional removals and cleaning, coordinating property handovers, and "official deregistration," all "according to Swiss regulations."

For companies, Expat Services Zurich offers corporate relocation solutions aimed at taking burden off HR departments. The firm claims to help "ensure your international employees and their families experience a smooth transition into life in Switzerland," covering "arrival logistics and housing to registration, schooling and cultural integration." By managing administrative requirements, the firm says it relieves "employees of time-consuming tasks and helps them focus on their new responsibilities."

What Distinguishes Them

Several testimonials provide concrete evidence of the firm's work. A professional from Italy (Marco Vanoli at A. Menarini GmbH) moved during Christmas and "urgently needed an apartment on short notice." He reports: "Within just a few days, they found exactly the apartment I was looking for, in the right location and within my budget. What impressed me most was their outstanding availability, even during the holidays."

A young professional couple from Barcelona to Zurich note that finding "the apartment that we wanted in record time" would not have been "possible without" their consultant Sandra's help. They emphasized she is "very kind, easy to reach and always available."

Someone relocating to Lucerne with a cat reports being "able to sign my rental contract" after "a long search and several rejections" when handed to RelEx. For a household pet, this is notable: landlords in Switzerland often restrict pets, making this a meaningful accomplishment.

A client in Zug reports: "Every step was handled with the utmost professionalism and great efficiency, making the entire process so much more relaxed and completely stress-free."

Another Lucerne client notes: "The RelEx team impressed us with their professionalism, deep knowledge of the market, and truly personal support. From the very first conversation, it was clear that they work with both heart and expertise. Our needs were carefully understood, and within a short time, we received suitable housing offers."

These testimonials repeat a pattern: speed (apartment found "in a few days," "in record time"), consultant availability even in difficult circumstances (Christmas, evening/weekend responsiveness), and attention to specific client constraints (budget, pets, school preferences, canton-specific market knowledge).

What Remains Unspecified

The site does not publish pricing. There's no indication whether the firm charges a flat fee, a percentage of rent, an hourly rate, or a combination. For someone comparing options or budgeting, this is a significant gap and requires contacting the firm directly.

The firm does not detail how many consultants are on staff, how long the business has been operating, or how many relocations they handle annually. The testimonials name one consultant, Sandra, but whether the firm is Sandra plus a team or a larger organization is not clear.

The site does not specify geographic reach beyond Zurich, Lucerne, and Zug. Someone relocating to Geneva, Basel, or eastern Switzerland would need to confirm whether Expat Services Zurich can serve them or would refer them elsewhere.

Timelines are not specified. The testimonials mention speed ("a few days," "record time"), but there's no published guarantee of how quickly an apartment can be found or how long settling-in support lasts. For someone with a tight deadline (starting work on a specific date), this uncertainty could be important.

The extent of permit assistance is not detailed, whether the firm can file applications on a client's behalf, translate documents, or primarily advises on requirements and processes. For someone relocating on a complex visa (startup founder, intra-company transfer, asylum seeker), this distinction matters but is left to a consultation to clarify.

Who This Suits

Expat Services Zurich works well for individuals and families relocating to Zurich, Lucerne, or Zug who want personalized service and are willing to pay for convenience. It appeals to people with specific constraints: arriving families with school-age children (school selection help is emphasized), people with pets (the cat relocation testimonial shows capability here), and professionals arriving on tight timelines who need an apartment quickly.

It suits companies relocating single expats or small teams to Zurich and wanting one point of contact rather than having employees navigate permits and housing alone. The corporate service is designed to relieve HR departments of that coordination work.

It's less suited to someone relocating to Geneva or other Swiss regions outside Zurich/Lucerne/Zug without first confirming coverage. It may be less ideal for someone relocating with minimal budget constraints (the firm's emphasis on finding apartments "in budget" suggests cost negotiation, which helps when resources are limited but is less relevant for well-funded relocators).

Expat Services Zurich's distinctive strength is the combination of personalized service, consultant availability, and specific expertise with difficult logistics (pets, Christmas timing, competitive rental markets). For someone arriving in Zurich with family and needing an apartment quickly, the testimonials suggest the firm delivers meaningful value.