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This weekend I started packing my belongings in anticipation of the move. The moving day is February 11 and a few friends have already offered to help. I also have use of a Volkswagen van, which should be perfect for the tables, shelves, and bed.

Moving within Switzerland is probably not much different than moving anywhere else, but with the exception of the handover of your old apartment. In Canada you simply move out and leave the maintenance and cleaning of the place to your landlord who prepares it for the next tenant. In Switzerland you're required to thoroughly clean the place and pass an inspection. They can be quite fussy about this: A buddy recalls his landlord putting on a white glove and sliding his finger across the top of a door. "Schmutz!" I'll probably hire professional cleaners who guarantee their services. It'll be one thing less to worry about.

The inspection also assesses the condition of the apartment and lists maintenance issues such as wear on the floors and marks on the wall. The question is, who pays for this? It seems to depend on a number of factors, but ultimately the landlord makes a subjective decision if I'm negligent and need to pay. I also understand that my liability insurance may foot part of the bill. These uncertainties have definitely contributed to my fear of moving, so let's see how it goes and I'll write about it later.