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My Italian Ex-Pat adventure is ***Officially*** in progress 2025-2026 edition! (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Chemical X
- Start date
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I'm close to finalizing the load out date for the movers here in BMore. I'm going to insist on a 40 foot container, even though the calculator says we can likely fit out stuff in a 20 foot. I don't want to have to eject items like Chem X. The cost difference isn't that much really, maybe 10-15% more. They base it on weight of the items loaded. All these folks want a virtual or in person survey, but I don't have time to do 4x of these, so I took a bunch of pictures, measured everything, put it on a spreadsheet and told them to quote that. The surveys are dumb IMO.
We bought our tix for departure. BWI -> JFK -> GVA. We leave the US on Aug 3.
Last but not least, our application for an apartment was accepted! We will lease a 4 BR / 3BA, 170sq. meter apartment about 10 min walk from the city center in a cute neighborhood (search 1208 Geneva). It's on the 5th floor in a pre-wat building with an elevator. Secured a parking spot too for the car we don't own. Gonna sell both our cars here in the US and buy a used car in Switzerland. Something that will fit the 4 of us plus my MIL with mobility problems. We used a placement agent who charged us 1 month rent for doing maybe 20 hours of work. Good gig for her.
We bought our tix for departure. BWI -> JFK -> GVA. We leave the US on Aug 3.
Last but not least, our application for an apartment was accepted! We will lease a 4 BR / 3BA, 170sq. meter apartment about 10 min walk from the city center in a cute neighborhood (search 1208 Geneva). It's on the 5th floor in a pre-wat building with an elevator. Secured a parking spot too for the car we don't own. Gonna sell both our cars here in the US and buy a used car in Switzerland. Something that will fit the 4 of us plus my MIL with mobility problems. We used a placement agent who charged us 1 month rent for doing maybe 20 hours of work. Good gig for her.
Chemical X
Footballguy
hoping we can meet up in the future….how much is the rent? have you applied to be on house hunters international?
Write all the stories you want. I enjoy following along.
Psychopav
Help us, Joebi-Wan Brynobi, you're our only ho
Ditto
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Just got back from a vacation in Italy and was shocked how even in rather toursity parts of Rome, the prices for things like wine, spritz, food, pastries, etc. were so much more reasonable than the US. Like how am I sitting in a significant piazza looking at a Bernini sculpture and having a cappuccino and chocolate croissant for like $6? I got home, got a croissant at a farmers market and it was half as good at double the price.
Yambag
Footballguy
Add me to this list. As someone who has applied for EU citizenship through Spain (and a frequent Italy visitor), this thread is very useful and keeps my dream of living abroad alive.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
"Wut the eff's a Bernini? And the extra 6 bucks is for the "'Merica." You're welcome."
Chemical X
Footballguy
had dembe come by today for about 3 hours. we did some tree pruning, the giant fig needed major trimming. then i reminded myself i am an old man and sprained my shoulder trying to start this new backpack blower i bought. i actually thought i dislocated the damn thing, heard a slight pop on top. figure i am down 1-2 weeks which absolutely blowsor. cleaned our new outdoor screened room. used a leftover electric power washer and also used it to clean the marble table and benches which were in the photos. i don’t think the prior owners ever cleaned it and it was pretty mildewy. if anyone knows how to handle a walnut tree, i am all ears. they are all over the place on the lawn.
Chemical X
Footballguy
forgot, funny story…..last night i got up for a drink around 1a. went downstairs and coming back up i looked out the window, checking for thieves……i saw something walking slowly across my neighbors driveway, right to left. it appeared to be a pretty enormous wild boar, it looked 1,000 lbs., like a bear on all 4s. definitely seemed to be cinghiale.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
A Euro cornhole would be cool.
Rent is CHF 6300 + parking at CHF 300. UN will subsidize something like CHF 1200 of that.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Sucks you left the states and couldn't shoot it.
Chemical X
Footballguy
um, i’m no korean math savant, but is that $7k / mo.?
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Yup.
Chemical X
Footballguy
wife must pull crazy coin. that country is crazy expensive. i’m pretty neutral on it though.
ConstruxBoy
Kate's Daddy
Chemical X
Footballguy
today was a big day for us……after arriving in italy, we have 8 business days to file for residency/permesso di soggiorno and we accomplished that today without a hitch. we registered at the postale and they schedule an appointment for us at the police station….only 2 week wait, 7/17 in the morning. fingerprints, make sure we actually have a house….
The Z Machine
Footballguy
She doesn't get paid THAT much. She works for the UN. Income will end up being US income tax free in the end, but we likely have to submit quarterly payments that get reimbursed by the UN.
Part of the calculation on rent is that she'll get something like CHF 1000 rental subsidy, and my MIL is living with us and she'll contribute something like another CHF 1200 for her portion of the rent. That takes it down to like CHF 4100 for my wife and I to cover with our salaries.
The cost of this move is no joke though. All in, door to door including insurance will cost $15.5 - 16k. Wife gets some relo assistance, but it won't cover all of that cost. We might ask MIL to cover 1/5th, or her portion... TBD
The Z Machine
Footballguy
GLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
The Z Machine
Footballguy
BTW, with the way this country is going right now, we might have just gotten out before s hits the fan.
Chemical X
Footballguy
This guy came today, in black not stainless. Price here is much lower.......
www.delonghi.com
Dinamica Plus, tutti i prodotti | De'Longhi IT
Scopri tutta la gamma di Dinamica Plus DeLonghi e trova il prodotto più adatto a te. Acquistalo ora dal nostro shop.
Psychopav
Help us, Joebi-Wan Brynobi, you're our only ho
789 thousand dollars!?!? :OThis guy came today, in black not stainless. Price here is much lower.......
Dinamica Plus, tutti i prodotti | De'Longhi IT
Scopri tutta la gamma di Dinamica Plus DeLonghi e trova il prodotto più adatto a te. Acquistalo ora dal nostro shop.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Mine was a little more789 thousand dollars!?!? :OThis guy came today, in black not stainless. Price here is much lower.......
Dinamica Plus, tutti i prodotti | De'Longhi IT
Scopri tutta la gamma di Dinamica Plus DeLonghi e trova il prodotto più adatto a te. Acquistalo ora dal nostro shop.
Chemical X
Footballguy
Making progress here. We are learning that this house really hasn’t been updated since the last update, which was prolly 1980. that sounds recent, but it
€599,00. €1.500,00
just another way to confuse the man….
on a side note, i definitely think i separated my shoulder a couple of days ago. hate to have to go to the doctor, but i may not have a choice. kind of suxor, honestly the very last thing i wanted was something orthopedic.
so, in the EU they flip the comma and point in their money, which is always annoying;789 thousand dollars!?!? :OThis guy came today, in black not stainless. Price here is much lower.......
Dinamica Plus, tutti i prodotti | De'Longhi IT
Scopri tutta la gamma di Dinamica Plus DeLonghi e trova il prodotto più adatto a te. Acquistalo ora dal nostro shop.
€599,00. €1.500,00
just another way to confuse the man….
on a side note, i definitely think i separated my shoulder a couple of days ago. hate to have to go to the doctor, but i may not have a choice. kind of suxor, honestly the very last thing i wanted was something orthopedic.
Psychopav
Help us, Joebi-Wan Brynobi, you're our only ho
I know, I was just kidding. But actually I didn't realize they used the period the way we use the comma. Very interesting!Making progress here. We are learning that this house really hasn’t been updated since the last update, which was prolly 1980. that sounds recent, but it
so, in the EU they flip the comma and point in their money, which is always annoying;789 thousand dollars!?!? :OThis guy came today, in black not stainless. Price here is much lower.......
Dinamica Plus, tutti i prodotti | De'Longhi IT
Scopri tutta la gamma di Dinamica Plus DeLonghi e trova il prodotto più adatto a te. Acquistalo ora dal nostro shop.
€599,00. €1.500,00
just another way to confuse the man….
on a side note, i definitely think i separated my shoulder a couple of days ago. hate to have to go to the doctor, but i may not have a choice. kind of suxor, honestly the very last thing i wanted was something orthopedic.
Hope the shoulder turns out ok.
Chemical X
Footballguy
dottore on wednesday. i need to be sure. will provide long winded and detailed update after.I know, I was just kidding. But actually I didn't realize they used the period the way we use the comma. Very interesting!Making progress here. We are learning that this house really hasn’t been updated since the last update, which was prolly 1980. that sounds recent, but it
so, in the EU they flip the comma and point in their money, which is always annoying;789 thousand dollars!?!? :OThis guy came today, in black not stainless. Price here is much lower.......
Dinamica Plus, tutti i prodotti | De'Longhi IT
Scopri tutta la gamma di Dinamica Plus DeLonghi e trova il prodotto più adatto a te. Acquistalo ora dal nostro shop.
€599,00. €1.500,00
just another way to confuse the man….
on a side note, i definitely think i separated my shoulder a couple of days ago. hate to have to go to the doctor, but i may not have a choice. kind of suxor, honestly the very last thing i wanted was something orthopedic.
Hope the shoulder turns out ok.
positive note, i had a great gardener come out this week, the guy we used in december to build our screened room and plant some things. he also does irrigation and basically made love to my entire system, which needed it. new rotors, a brand new rain bird controller with wifi, new drip system. the last owner installed a system and never maintained it……broken heads, 2 zones on a battery controller that nasa scientists couldn’t program, clogged drip system. the system controller was in a quasi lock box looking lunch box metal thing with sliding switches. it feels almost like home now.
after 1 week me and my wife have been having good conversations, we are bringing some things up to standard, but not spending anything significant, like redoing a bathroom, adding a tub. we may just make this move a 1 year thing. it’s early and the fantasy of moving abroad is awesome, but so many things are an unnecessary struggle vs the states. we have things coddled for us compared to here. we know it’s gonna be a struggle and nicely different, but our conversation now is “will the quality of life be below what we have become accustomed to”? if it is below, we need to seriously take stock of it is worth it. if that makes sense. not to say we are snobs, we come from lower middle class, but we’ve saved hard and worked hard to get to a certain point. do we need to force ourselves to 3rd world? to be determined….,
The Z Machine
Footballguy
It ain't 3rd world. In those places you can throw money at human labor to make your life more comfortable. Like having a driver, maid, chef, etc.
Good bro, sorry to hear about the shoulder.
Good bro, sorry to hear about the shoulder.
Chemical X
Footballguy
if it’s a separation, it’s mild, but not being 100% with the language and having to see a strange doctor for something like this is uber annoying. i mean, i hurt it pulling the blower rip cord, like how much damage could i have done? thing is, i have to rest it and now is not consusive to just taking 4-6 weeks to be in a sling. i changed the words to a song here to be “aperol, tramadol e limone”.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
I’ll have to try that drink. 
Sounds like a small rotator cuff injury. Look up PT for rotator cuff tears. I tore mine in 2 places 1.5 years ago. Did a ton of PT and I’m all good. No surgery needed. You will do a million I/Y/T exercises.
Sounds like a small rotator cuff injury. Look up PT for rotator cuff tears. I tore mine in 2 places 1.5 years ago. Did a ton of PT and I’m all good. No surgery needed. You will do a million I/Y/T exercises.
Phil Elliott
Footballguy
Not sure Europe is progressing any better.
Orange&Blue
Footballguy
France and Germany...yikes
Orange&Blue
Footballguy
Thinking about going to Italy next summer for a 10-14 day trip. Mrs and I will be bringing our 16 year old son and two ten year old kids (boy/girl).
Looking for recommendations/suggestions on places to go/stay/eat.
Looking for recommendations/suggestions on places to go/stay/eat.
Phil Elliott
Footballguy
@Orange&Blue - Here is a high level start. It does depend on your interests. We spent three weeks in Italy about 6 years ago. Don't get spread too thin. You can get to most cities by train very cheap and fast. Maybe spend 2-4 nights per place you choose.
Venice/Murano - loved this area. annual floods in August? Enjoyed 1/2 day at Murano. After you walk past the first few commercial shops the remaining shops are pretty much multi generation family owned.
Florence - great renaissance history/museums. You can rent a car and take day trips into Tuscany, like Sienna (you may or may not want to be around Sienna for the Palio horse race on July 2 and August 16.)
Rome - Vatican, coliseum, pantheon etc all very interesting.
Amalfi Coast/Capri/Blue Grotto is our favorite spot.
Naples wasn't very nice area. We did not go to Pompeii.
We didn't go to Milan/Lake Como, Cinque Terra, Leaning Tower Pisa, Southern Italy (our next trip).
It can get hot in summer so you may want to check on a/c where ever you stay. We went in May and the was weather was great. Gelato, pizza and wine on every block.
Venice/Murano - loved this area. annual floods in August? Enjoyed 1/2 day at Murano. After you walk past the first few commercial shops the remaining shops are pretty much multi generation family owned.
Florence - great renaissance history/museums. You can rent a car and take day trips into Tuscany, like Sienna (you may or may not want to be around Sienna for the Palio horse race on July 2 and August 16.)
Rome - Vatican, coliseum, pantheon etc all very interesting.
Amalfi Coast/Capri/Blue Grotto is our favorite spot.
Naples wasn't very nice area. We did not go to Pompeii.
We didn't go to Milan/Lake Como, Cinque Terra, Leaning Tower Pisa, Southern Italy (our next trip).
It can get hot in summer so you may want to check on a/c where ever you stay. We went in May and the was weather was great. Gelato, pizza and wine on every block.
Last edited:
Yambag
Footballguy
@Orange&Blue
Great tips from Phil above (use trains between cities, 3-4 days per place, don't try to do too much). Here are the itineraries for the two separate 16-day trips I have done:
-Rome/Florence/Cinque Terre/Positano/Capri (heading down south towards the end was tough, would have been better off staying north and doing a separate trip south.
-Lake Como/Venice/Florence/Cinque Terre
I have also been to Sicily and am visiting Rimini and Bologna this September.
Feel free to pm me with any questions or if you want more details and/or tips.
ex-ghost
Footballguy
The Z Machine
Footballguy
OK, moving company comes on 24 July to pack up the stuff, load into container on 25 July. We vacate our house on the 27th or 28th so that repainting can happen.
Having some issues getting landlord insurance for the house that will turn into a rental. Since we don't have another policy (auto, home, etc) and will be living outside the country, many insurers won't take on this type of policy... I would have to have to sell the house simply because I couldn't find insurance for it. That would be a major sucky suck.
Kids are enrolled in school in GVA, so that side is looking good. It's the Baltimore side that is a major stressor right now.
Having some issues getting landlord insurance for the house that will turn into a rental. Since we don't have another policy (auto, home, etc) and will be living outside the country, many insurers won't take on this type of policy... I would have to have to sell the house simply because I couldn't find insurance for it. That would be a major sucky suck.
Kids are enrolled in school in GVA, so that side is looking good. It's the Baltimore side that is a major stressor right now.
Chemical X
Footballguy
have you tried Clements Worldwide? They are ex-pat friendly and offer landlord insurance. not sure if it works in your instance, but i have used them successfully for other matters.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Thanks for the tip. PM me a contact.
My stress level has never been higher for a sustained period than it has been for the last 2 months. I'm cracking and my wife is trying to hold me together.
Chemical X
Footballguy
Chemical X
Footballguy
i need to post some catch ups. today was questura day, with fingerprinting. family is visiting for 2 weeks. fiber internet is a struggle. new electrician is awesome. i will kerouac in a bit.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Wassup Chem? You are keeping us in the dark!
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Update from me:
Kids and MIL got their entry visas in their passports which they can turn into residency permits when they arrive in Geneva. As for me, I will arrive on a tourist visa and stay for about 45-50 days and then return to the US.
We busted our butts to get the house ready for the movers. Had to segregate out into 5 piles: 1) Trash / recycle, 2) Donate or give away, 3) Try to sell on FB and CL, 4) Go with us on the plane, 5) Packed and ship via 40' container. Holy crap it was a lot of work. Took 2 days off work and it was full out 7-10 one day and 7-7 the next day.
I didnt get the parking closure request into the city in time (need 15 biz days) but made it work by blocking the space with our 2 cars plus a neighbor's car. The movers packed up and loaded the truck which departed yesterday so our stuff is en route now. Big sense of relief and the list of things to do was shortened considerably.
Painters and drywall people begin today to get the house ready for renters. Had to get the 100+ year old cornice outside scraped and repainted due to lead paint but that's done. Installed new smoke detectors and CO monitors before my tools got packed up.
Still trying to finalize the property management company and landlord insurance but I do have quotes in hand for 3 options for each.
Have to sell my car and try not to get fleeced in the process. Also need to take 3 bookcases, a liquor cabinet, and a bunch of plastic tubs to our storage unit (which requires renting a truck).
We slept in our children's bunk beds last night since our bed got packed. MIL slept in her bed since it will be sold or donated. We have probably 2 more nights sleeping rough until we can move into a friend's house (they will be out of town) for all of next week.
Plane for Switzerland Departs in the afternoon on Aug 3. We pick up the kids from sleep away camp the evening before. It's feeling pretty pretty pretty pretty real at this point.
Kids and MIL got their entry visas in their passports which they can turn into residency permits when they arrive in Geneva. As for me, I will arrive on a tourist visa and stay for about 45-50 days and then return to the US.
We busted our butts to get the house ready for the movers. Had to segregate out into 5 piles: 1) Trash / recycle, 2) Donate or give away, 3) Try to sell on FB and CL, 4) Go with us on the plane, 5) Packed and ship via 40' container. Holy crap it was a lot of work. Took 2 days off work and it was full out 7-10 one day and 7-7 the next day.
I didnt get the parking closure request into the city in time (need 15 biz days) but made it work by blocking the space with our 2 cars plus a neighbor's car. The movers packed up and loaded the truck which departed yesterday so our stuff is en route now. Big sense of relief and the list of things to do was shortened considerably.
Painters and drywall people begin today to get the house ready for renters. Had to get the 100+ year old cornice outside scraped and repainted due to lead paint but that's done. Installed new smoke detectors and CO monitors before my tools got packed up.
Still trying to finalize the property management company and landlord insurance but I do have quotes in hand for 3 options for each.
Have to sell my car and try not to get fleeced in the process. Also need to take 3 bookcases, a liquor cabinet, and a bunch of plastic tubs to our storage unit (which requires renting a truck).
We slept in our children's bunk beds last night since our bed got packed. MIL slept in her bed since it will be sold or donated. We have probably 2 more nights sleeping rough until we can move into a friend's house (they will be out of town) for all of next week.
Plane for Switzerland Departs in the afternoon on Aug 3. We pick up the kids from sleep away camp the evening before. It's feeling pretty pretty pretty pretty real at this point.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Oh and we're likely to have a garage sale on Sunday for any items that don't sell via FB / CL.
Chemical X
Footballguy
make sure you have 800 got junk on speed dial for after the garage sale.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
We've tossed nearly everything else that won't be for sale and I hope we can move the largest items 3x sofas. My wife is making deals with the workers doing the drywall and painting at our house so that could help get rid of some things.
I just made a run to the city trash dump today but there's likely more.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Sale not going great. Very little traffic. I guess there's little appetite for used stuff these days...
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
I will happily light my crap on fire before I host a garage sale
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Well we made it to Geneva a few days ago. Getting settled and figuring some stuff out. The departure was an ordeal with canceled flights, airport changes, repacking of bags on sidewalks and at the check in counter, etc. Thankfully once we were on board the travel has been relatively smooth.
The 2 biggest hiccups right now are the cancelled Taylor Swift concert in Vienna that my wife and daughter were supposed to go to this weekend. My daughter is gonna be crushed... I think they'll still go as the flights and hotel are non-refundable.
The second is the stone spiral staircase with 3 steps without handrail in our airbnb that my MIL is scared to death of climbing, even with 2 other adults helping. She'll have to go up eventually as there's no shower on the first floor (which is actually the second floor of the building). Those stairs weren't shown in the airbnb pics.
The 2 biggest hiccups right now are the cancelled Taylor Swift concert in Vienna that my wife and daughter were supposed to go to this weekend. My daughter is gonna be crushed... I think they'll still go as the flights and hotel are non-refundable.
The second is the stone spiral staircase with 3 steps without handrail in our airbnb that my MIL is scared to death of climbing, even with 2 other adults helping. She'll have to go up eventually as there's no shower on the first floor (which is actually the second floor of the building). Those stairs weren't shown in the airbnb pics.
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