Experience with finding accommodation when you’re physically there?
Posted by HappySession3085@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 25 comments
The place I’m (28f) moving to doesn’t have many options online for housing and I’ve been recommended to book a hotel for 7 nights and apartment hunt with the locals when I’m there.
Has anyone else found accommodation this way? Esp in SE Asia.
I’ll do it but I am a bit nervous in case I don’t find anything and have to keep spending money on hotels. Or just doing apartment viewings by myself with its with private landlords. Im not close with anyone else on the island.
tusk_alloc_err@reddit
I did the same when moving to Thailand, and have friends who've done it in Vietnam and Malaysia. Standard practice, really.
You'll want to get a feel for the city and see where you want to live also. For example, in Bangkok, I am far from the main tourist drag, but close to the transport system. More local vibe without being in la-la land.
Most places have real estate agents that can help too, but don't let them push you into anything.
u_scout@reddit
Yeah I did something similar in Thailand and Vietnam, honestly it works. What surprised me more was that even when I checked places in person, the area could still feel completely different depending on time of day or just the general vibe. Like everything looks okay, but you don’t really notice things like noise or how busy it actually gets until later.
HappySession3085@reddit (OP)
Thank you!! I feel a lot more confident about looking when I’m out there, ive booked a hotel for a week so I think I’ll be fine and find somewhere within that time
No_Country_2069@reddit
Yes, this is extremely common in SEA. I would never agree to an apartment lease without physically going there in person anyway. You never know how recent the pictures actually are or what red flags might not be shown (e.g. mold growing on the ceilings, massive construction site right next door), or it might just be a scam. And where I lived (Vietnam) places on real estate websites tend to have very inflated prices.
Not sure where you’re moving, but one of the issues with trying to find a place ahead of time online where I’ve lived is landlords probably just want people who can move in ASAP, like I’ve looked at an apartment before and then moved in 3 or 4 days later, basically as soon as they’d drawn up a lease contract and I’d had time to check and sign it. If you tell them you want to move in in a month, they’ll tell you to get back to them in a few weeks when you’re ready and they’ll let you know if it’s still available.
u_scout@reddit
That makes sense. I think the hardest part for me is not even the apartment itself, but the surroundings. Like even if the place is okay, things like construction nearby or just the general atmosphere of the area are almost impossible to judge in advance.
That’s what makes committing long-term a bit stressful.
HappySession3085@reddit (OP)
Thank you! It just worried me a bit as I couldn’t find anythingggg online in the area I need but the locals I messaged said get here first and you’ll be fine. They only advertise online the expensive places that are aimed at tourists
Granny-Goose6150@reddit
When I moved to Malaysia the first time, my office booked me a hotel for a month to give me time to find an apartment.
HappySession3085@reddit (OP)
Thank you! I’m also going to Malaysia
Granny-Goose6150@reddit
I started searching in iProperty to get an idea of the price and contacted the agents for the apartments I liked, then once I reached Malaysia, I viewed the apartment I was interested in.
One thing to note, renting apartments here require 2 months deposit, 1 month advance and 1/2 month for utilities, when you start renting. My cash evaporated the first time I rented because I didn’t know and didn’t come prepared.
Competitive-Leg-962@reddit
Without naming the place, nobody can give you any advice.
HappySession3085@reddit (OP)
Langkawi Malaysia for 3 months minimum
Competitive-Leg-962@reddit
Hm, I'm in Malaysia and here everything works via agents. Most people don't actually know their landlords directly. Could be that Langkawi is different, but tbh all rental contracts here are by default signed for 1 year minimum with option to extend, short term rentals are very unusual. Again maybe it's more common there due to tourism, but even then I'd expect owners go through agencies rather than handling every short term rental personally.
I'd start checking listings on mudah.my and iproperty.com.my and sort by private landlord (if any, really, in my city there were like 2 vs. 500 by agents) and contact them through whatsapp. Good thing here is that everyone lists their phone number.
HappySession3085@reddit (OP)
This is what I’ve been looking to do but Langkawi works a lot different and there’s only less than 5 apartments listed on there website that are expensive and not in the area I want. It’s all private landlords that want to meet you. My dad’s Malaysian and has been calling around for me too but they all say for what I’m looking for it’s best to go there but that’s why it was worrying me.
Catcher_Thelonious@reddit
Who recommended this strategy? If you're moving for study or work, school or company HR should be able to assist.
You might get tailored advice by disclosing the location. You could also post in the subreddit of that country/city for help, as well as in FB groups for expats in that location.
HappySession3085@reddit (OP)
Im moving by myself as im getting a citizenship through my heritage. So I want a local Malaysian apartment not ones for holiday goers but they don’t advertise them online, especially in the area I want to live in
Catcher_Thelonious@reddit
Why not contact a few local real estate agents by email?
antizana@reddit
I’ve done that for almost all of my 10+ international moves. I book initially for 2 weeks but plan (mentally and financially) to be in a hotel or short term rental for a month.
HappySession3085@reddit (OP)
That’s great thank you
alongstrangetrip@reddit
I've done that moving to a city in the US and in New Zealand. I booked 2 weeks just in case, it worked out well both times.
HappySession3085@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
SirLongSchlong42@reddit
Hostels are dirt cheap, then it's only flight-money you'll have to wory about.
HappySession3085@reddit (OP)
Sorry I should’ve mentioned I’m looking for a long term private apartment. And I have my ticket booked but no place 😩
lemonrainbowhaze@reddit
They mean stay in a hostel not a hotel for 7 days while apartment hunting
GeneralRaspberry8102@reddit
Air B and B for one month search for a neighborhood. Air B and B for a month once you have found a neighborhood that meets your requirements and search for a long term lease.
GZHotwater@reddit
It’s a standard way to find rentals. I lived in China for 9 years and the typical way to to check out the area you like and then walk into the local real estate agents to check what they have available. China is easier now with multiple apps though a lot of ads can be fake or photoshopped photos. So you still need to view in person.
Book a cheap hostel for a week, then rebook one more week if you’ve not found anything immediately