Touchdown Relocation Services

A 27-year veteran in the Zurich market

Touchdown Relocation Services describes itself as "eine der ältesten und renommiertesten Relocation Firmen" (one of the oldest and most renowned relocation firms). The firm was founded in 1997 by Barbara Milne, who had lived abroad in the United States and Japan and understood firsthand what it means to relocate internationally without local networks or language fluency. Based in the Zurich region, Touchdown operates across the cantons of Zurich, Aargau, Zug, and Schwyz, serving companies, their employees, and private individuals planning relocations to Switzerland.

The firm's track record is quantified: they report having successfully relocated over 2,900 people since 1997. That number, if accurate, represents a significant volume and suggests a stable operation with repeat business and referrals. A team of four people manages the day-to-day work: Barbara Milne as founder and regional director, Fiona Jungi as relocation coordinator, Nicola Tschudi as relocation assistant, and Angelika Steigmeier as relocation consultant. By relocation-firm standards, that is a lean team, which shapes how they operate and what services remain modular rather than white-glove.

The team is multilingual, communicating in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. That range covers the major immigrant-source countries to Switzerland and signals they can work with newcomers who are not yet fluent in German or French.

How they structure the work

Touchdown emphasizes modularity: they describe their services in modules, which means you can buy exactly what you need rather than a fixed package. That flexibility lets someone who has already found housing pay for help with registration and school placement, while someone relocating sight-unseen from abroad can purchase a complete relocation support package. The modules approach also lets the firm manage costs: each person gets what is relevant to their situation, and pricing is not published, so interested clients must contact the firm for a quote.

Their service list is granular and practical: pre-arrival orientation tours in and around Zurich and the surrounding cantons; arranging temporary or furnished housing if you need a bridging solution; house and apartment search, including site selection, viewings, lease negotiation, and closure; household moving logistics; guidance through registration at the local civil authority and bank account opening; support with immigration office procedures; local orientation training and important information for newcomers; school selection advice and accompanying families to school visits; coordination of apartment takeover and handwork after move-in; a structured "Welcome to Zurich" workshop; insurance advice specific to Switzerland; and support with departure if you eventually leave.

That breadth covers the core blockers most expats face in the first weeks: finding somewhere to live, proving residence to open a bank account, getting children into school, and understanding how to live in your new community. It also handles the administrative overhead, which is substantial when you cannot read German and do not know which forms go to which office.

What the site makes clear

The firm is located in Zurich and reachable through their website contact form. They work with companies, which means they also handle group relocations and can integrate with corporate relocation policies. A testimonial from Parag Desai at LafargeHolcim praises their meticulous planning and personal touch, suggesting they do handle corporate-sponsored relocations at scale.

They offer the option of working with external specialists for services outside their core competency: moving companies, work permits for non-EU citizens, insurance brokerage, tax advice, intercultural training, recruitment, and payroll services. They also partner with global relocation companies as a destination service provider, which means they can embed into international corporate relocation programs rather than operating in isolation.

Touchdown has facilitated group relocations, which is relevant if you are a company moving a team or a family moving with extended relatives. They handle what they call "Firmenwohnungen" (corporate housing), meaning they manage ongoing maintenance of company apartments or residences.

Client testimonials speak to the experience: one unnamed happy client says Touchdown handled the entire relocation process excellently and they would recommend it. Another client who relocated with family from India found them impressed by professionalism, meticulous planning, and attention to small details, plus a personal touch. A third testimonial describes relocation from London to a location in the Zurich region, though that appears to be from a different firm (Welcome Relocation); Touchdown's testimonials focus on arrivals from India and general satisfaction.

The site mentions links to international schools in Zurich (Zurich International School, Inter-community School, SIS Swiss International School, Lycée français de Zurich) and the International School of Zug and Lucerne, plus bilingual schools in Zurich and surrounding areas, which is practical for families who are looking for English-language or multilingual education.

What is not detailed

Pricing is not published, which is standard for relocation services with modular offerings. You would need to contact them to learn what specific services cost, though the founding in 1997 and 27-year track record suggest they are a stable operation unlikely to vanish after taking payment.

The site does not detail how deeply they involve themselves in each phase: do they actively search for apartments on your behalf and negotiate leases, or do they curate a list of options for you to review? Do they accompany you to every appointment, or do they prepare you and let you go solo? That matters for the hands-on level of support and for how much translation and interpretation they provide.

Language support, while listed (they communicate in five languages), is not specified at the individual advisor level: does every team member speak all five, or are different people fluent in different languages? That affects how seamlessly you can work across the team.

Who this suits

Touchdown Relocation Services works well for people or companies relocating to the Zurich region who want local expertise from a firm with a deep track record. The modular approach suits people who know what they need and can mix and match services, as well as those who want comprehensive hand-holding. The emphasis on schools and school visits appeals to families with children who need to settle into a new education system mid-year.

The corporate partnerships and global relocation networks make Touchdown suitable for internationally mobile professionals whose moves are sponsored or coordinated through a corporate relocation policy. The 27-year history and volume (over 2,900 relocations) suggests a stable, well-established operation unlikely to disappear mid-project.

The geographic focus on Zurich and surrounding cantons (Aargau, Zug, Schwyz) means they know that region in depth but are not equipped for relocations to other Swiss regions like Bern, Basel, or Geneva. If you are moving to those areas, Touchdown is not the fit. The five-language capability suits arrivals from German-, French-, Italian-, Spanish-, and English-speaking countries, but less so those from other backgrounds.