Scan Magazine

By Signe Hansen

One of the first challenges when moving to the UK is finding a home, but there is no need to despair. Help is available from the relocation and property acquisition consultancy Consido, founded by its Swedish Managing Director Suzanne Bolinder ten years ago.

Consido offers a tailor-made service focused on renting and buying property at the high-end London market for both corporate and private clients.  Around half of their assignees are Scandinavian expatriates. “When finding the right home for them, Consido helps find a school for the kids, and offers a crash course on life in the UK too,” explains Bolinder.

If you wish to buy your home or just invest in property, the company can also help navigate between the many different kinds of ownership in the UK, which are new to most Scandinavians. To get the best possible deal, Consido works closely with different estate agents, who can be challenging for someone new to the UK market. “You have to remember that estate agents are working for the seller and not the buyer,” Bolinder says. The legal side of buying a property is also more complicated than in Scandinavia and Consido can be vital in that process as well as when negotiating prices.

Consido has departments in the UK, South Africa, Switzerland and Dubai.

Three pieces of advice from Consido:

- Contact a relocation company that can tailor-make a solution for you.

- Be aware of all the costs related to your lifestyle in the UK such as housing and schools.

- Join a networking organisation or engage yourself in your community even if your stay is short.

For more details visit: www.consido.net