The son is moving out - or is he?
Of course we love our two children, there's no question about it. We've been together for a long time, 22 years with our son and twenty years with our daughter. It was a formative time, an ups and downs of emotions, we went through the whole gamut from elation to grief, or as the musician in the family says: we played the white and black keys on the piano.
Two years ago, our son moved out of boarding school along with his household effects and moved back in with us. It was a stressful time at times, as we had to find our feet again and establish rules that apply to both young and old so that we can live together in harmony and comfort. The latter is very important to me, I would prefer 24 hours of peace, joy and eggnog. But of course, real life is not a pink-coloured plush pony farm, so I can put up with discussions and arguments, because without friction there is no tension and it should be exciting. I don't know which sugar sachet this piece of wisdom was written on.
So the son has moved back into his realm, which is a separate studio in the soussol of our house. There's a whole flat between him and us. Son's balcony door to the seating area is always open for his friends at home, who come to visit almost every day to talk. Haha, did I say talk?
Meanwhile, the kitchen upstairs in our flat has become a real transit centre, especially in lockdown times, there was always someone at the cooker, ok, mostly me, but in between the junior friends and suddenly the idea came up, how cool would it be if you could have your own flat?
Three young men are looking for an affordable rental flat in the centre of Zurich. They have a sense of humour, you have to give them that.
After the son realised that we were planning to stay in here for a few more years, he dipped into a housing agency pool: Three young men are looking for an affordable rental flat in the centre of Zurich. They have a sense of humour, you have to give them that.
And lo and behold, the first offer actually comes in. Two young female students who know our son asked him if he would like to move in with them. Because the third girl is moving out of the flat, leaving a room free. The son thinks about it - the basic idea of setting up a flat share with his colleagues briefly fades into the background.
The second colleague's room was quite a mess - our son immediately developed a feeling of home.
Due to the coronavirus, it is not possible to view the property directly, so they suggest a visual tour via smartphone, to which he should then also apply with a video. Because it's not as if they were waiting for our son, no, there are already lots of interested parties on the virtual carpet.
The first impressions of the tour of the flat make our son's heart beat a little faster: the location is perfect (because it's not unimportant, it should be central, not too far from the party scene, a neighbourhood shop for the most necessary groceries and a drinks market in the immediate vicinity, hey, what more could you want?), beautiful parquet flooring, high ceilings, the room of the person leading us through the flat is presented with a large wardrobe and is perfectly organised, the second colleague's room is a bit of a mess - our son immediately developed a feeling of home. The third room, which is now advertised for rent, is very small, but how much do you need to live?
Second flat, second happiness
1200 francs, smiles the main tenant into the camera. Son, not one to be taken lightly, does the maths in a flash: 400 for me, mega bargain and that in the middle of Zurich. Then he hears the gentle voice: For everyone, that's 3600 francs in total and then there are a few additional costs. The fact that there's only room in the fridge for anything labelled soya and vegan is only half as bad, he wouldn't have been able to afford a fillet anyway.
It's not as if only expensive people hang around in a flat pool, no, there are also landlords who have a heart for young people whose wallets aren't bulging, but who still want to leave their parents' house. 4.5-room flat on the Zürichberg, bus stop in front of the house, car park too. Kitchen and bathroom renovated in the 1980s, all rooms with strip parquet flooring and large windows, balcony with a view of the greenery and other villas, with the lake flickering in the sunlight in between.
The landlord lives in the building, is open and tolerant and right now, when everyone is a little shaken by corona, he wants to offer a humane rent because it is difficult to find something that is affordable. When my son read this text to me, which was posted above the photos of the flat, I felt really warm inside: «You see, good things come to good things,» I explained to the boy, because I firmly believe that there is karma.
Rent 1500 euros. For the whole flat. Son, the quick calculator, says: 500 for each. I nod. Then we read: First deposit immediately, a link to it allows you to be the first if you pull the trigger on it straight away! Moooment, I shout, euros? And pay immediately without viewing? I'll have to think again about the karma.
Dig in!
Flat in an old building, 4 rooms, nothing renovated, nothing glossed over, offers space for three people for three months. It's a chance, says Junior, if we win the bid, it'll be my first flat. Temporarily, we parents think and say: OK, if it works out, then go for it.
Now he has signed the contract, a charming flat near the university and good public transport connections should he want to visit us with his laundry. 600 francs per person. After three months, the fun is over, because then the renovation is due. But perhaps this can be postponed a little longer. Or a new place to stay might be just around the corner. If not, he'll probably move back in with us.
