Hi everyone,
We're thinking of using a serviced apartment when we first arrive in Toronto so we can look at areas before renting. Is it worth using a relocation specialist to help us find a property and if so can anyone recommend one?

If someone else is paying for it, it might be worthwhile, otherwise I wouldn't bother. I had one paid for by my company when I moved here and I found them very formulaic. It was pretty much, 'oh, you've got children, you'll be living in High Park or Oakville then'. In the end I just ignored them and went and sorted things out for myself, it was quicker and easier that way.

Hi,

We used Toronto Furnished Apartments when we arrived. We had a two bed apartment in Simcoe Street; very clean, comfortable & convenient and I would highly recommend them.

We had a couple of weeks booked and managed to find a rental in that time. We booked online before we arrived and they were very helpful. There was also an underground parking space which was very handy as we filled our hire car with essentials for our rental house.

Good luck with the move...we are approaching 3 yrs & still enjoying ourselves.

I am using Santa Fe at the moment for a temporary assignment with work (Deloitte doing the taxes), but they are paying. No complaints about the people there - very affable and efficient -no email goes unanswered for more than 30 mins. However, I'm not sure i'd want to pay their fees out of my own pocket. They're used to big companies paying and I don't get the impression that they would negotiate as remorselessly as I would with accommodation providers etc. nothing like spending somebody else's money, after all!

I should also say that they didn't seem to know any more about the local situation/market than I did. That said it could be because my employer set it up so that I go through the 'hub' in the US. A smaller local company might be better but with the internet and modern communications, I imagine I would be able to make a good shot of it myself.

Apologies for the late reply. Thanks so much for the help