It’s hard to find a place to live in Geneva so it pays to prepare yourself before you arrive. Three property management firms, known locally as régies, told us more.

The first approach was with Valentine Barbier-Mueller, a Member of the General Management at Société Privée de Gérance, who shared with us that SPG is a 60-year-old family-run business, that has thrived through three generations. It is multi-faceted real estate group with 220 employees active in the main markets of the Geneva lake region – Geneva, Nyon and Lausanne. The Group’s strategy, based on decentralization and local anchorage, provides for an in-depth knowledge of the market conditions well suited to its international clientele – www.spg-rytz.ch 

The second approach was with Cécile Dupré, Director of Pilet-Renaud, one of the oldest régies in Geneva (created in 1872), who shared that her company offers a variety that goes from old-fashioned flats in multicultural and lively neighbourhoods, to modern accommodations near international schools, plus a very useful website that provides a presentation to newcomers about each neighborhood, number of schools, number of parks and shops – www.pilet-renaud.ch 

The third approach was with Frank Casanova, Chief Executive Officer at BARNES Swiss Licensing, who shared with us that Barnes is a company that has 90 branches in 60 destinations around the world, with a website that allows a 360º visit of the properties and a team of English-speaking brokers focused on key skills based on size, location, schools, accessibility – www.barnes-suisse.ch