We represent you
Beside you, or in your place under mandate, we follow the agency room by room and make sure your observations are recorded.
Signature service
Apartment handover assistance in Geneva
The handover is where everything is decided. Anything not recorded on the day you collect the keys will be held against you the day you leave.
We record everything
Every existing defect is photographed and documented, including those the official protocol does not detail.
We interpret
French and English. You understand exactly what you are signing, and the agency understands exactly what you mean.
You receive a full file
A complete bilingual document, sorted room by room, to keep and to send to the agency within the contestation period.
MSA does not draw up the official handover protocol. That remains the agency's responsibility. Our role is to support you, defend your interests and produce a supplementary document that carries weight in the event of a dispute.
Case study
A 3.5-room flat in Geneva
Two international tenants, a handover conducted entirely in French, an official protocol drawn up in French only. We attended, interpreted throughout and recorded what was missing.
- 87photographs taken and selected
- 10rooms documented
- 11findings not detailed in the protocol
Wear and tear, non-functioning elements, damp marks, missing equipment. All points that could have been charged to the tenant on departure.
Moving in or moving out, two different stakes
Check-in inventory
The aim is to have everything that already exists put on record: worn parquet, chipped paint, faulty equipment, missing keys. Without that trace, those defects will be attributed to you when you leave.
Move-out inspection
This is where your rental deposit is at stake. A solid check-in file, backed by photographs, is the strongest way to contest a deduction and recover your guarantee in full.
Frequently asked questions
Do you draw up the official handover protocol?
No. The official report remains the responsibility of the managing agent. Our role is to stand beside you, make sure your observations are recorded, and produce a supplementary file covering what the official protocol does not detail.
What is this service actually called in Geneva?
In French it is the état des lieux. In English you will see it called the apartment handover protocol, the check-in inventory, the move-in condition report or the inspection report. They all describe the same appointment.
How long do I have to send additional observations to the agency?
Managing agents in Geneva usually allow a period after the handover to submit further observations. The deadline appears on your own protocol and is often ten working days. We deliver your file well before it expires.
Can you attend on my behalf if I am not available?
Yes, with your written mandate. We follow the whole inspection in your place, record every point and send you a detailed account.
Do you also attend the move-out inspection?
Yes, and that is often where the money is. A thorough check-in file is the strongest argument against an unjustified deduction from your rental deposit.
Is a handover coming up?
Let us know as soon as the date is set. We make ourselves available and prepare the inspection with you.
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