Flat hunting in Geneva v/s flat hunting in Lima

My friend and I have been looking for flats in Lima and in just two days we could have signed about 15 contracts.

My friend and I had been looking for flats in Geneva and in over six months we managed to sign one contract - that we got through a "friend" of ours.

There is a clear difference between acquiring a flat here in Peru compared to Switzerland. The strategy changes, the attitude changes and the superiority position shifts.

In Geneva:

- you have to act as if you love the place and as if this flat was your dream come true even if it's a shit hole (which is most likely the case)
- you have to be satisfied if you find a toilet with a mattress
- you never tell anyone of your friends there is a good opportunity, fearing s/he would get it first
- you kiss the ass of the landlord/lady, make small talk and pretend to be best friend with him/her to get the flat
- you are clearly inferior to all the real estate agencies (régies) and get treated like shit by them
- you pay a huge amount of money for a tiny and decayed apartment
- you have to be old, mature and with kids to be considered serious and thus eligible for a flat (also a fat paycheck usually helps)

In Lima:

- you have to act as if you hate the place to get a discount
- your standards become surprisingly high. Ours are now: ocean view, pool, terrace and modern design
- you kindly greet all the other potential owners because there is always a better flat around the corner
- the landlord/lady kisses your ass and makes small talk with you to try and sell you the place
- you are clearly superior to the real estate agencies
- you pay a tiny amount of money to get a grandiose flat
- you have to be young, foreigner and child-less to get a flat (because kids mess up the place)

I love the supply and demand law. So y'all get your asses back to your desks, work hard and keep increasing the supply on the markets. I may be wrong but I feel that when the power is in the hands of the consumer/demand, the markets operate in a more fair and equitable way.