How to Rent an Apartment in Shanghai
Instructions Step1 Contact one of several major real estate firms with offices in all the districts in Shanghai. Maxview REALTY, Replus and others are becoming bigger players in the burgeoning Shanghai real estate market. Step2 Search for an apartment in the English language newspapers and magazines. These publications are available near major hotels and in bookstores. The classified section is like any in America and features apartment rentals, condominiums and villas. Step3 Use a map to identify the neighborhood and district of the apartment. The population density in Shanghai is much higher than in the West, and transportation needs should be considered when shopping for an apartment. Step4 Consult expat message boards and websites. The local expats are a great resource for local information on available apartments, regulations and pitfalls to avoid. Expats can also give advice on the best places to buy furnishings. Step5 Call and make appointments to see several apartments in one day. Appointments should be made for early in the day or after lunchtime but never around lunchtime. Be forewarned that punctuality may not be up to western standards so do not take it as a personal affront if the agent showing the apartment is an hour late. Step6 Scrutinize the lease agreement carefully with help of rental consultant. There may be unfamiliar clauses in the rental agreement and those should be explained in detail before signing. Many Chinese landlords will ask for a minimum of three months rent up front. They may also require a security deposit. Above- mentioned steps are the general instructions to rent an apartment in Shanghai for foreigners. If you want to skip some steps for time’s sake, you can search for the online property rental agencies first. They are made for foreigners only, so you don’t have to worry about the language or emphasize your criteria once and once again. Agencies such as Maxview REALTY and LUNA can also provide you specific services so you can go to step 6 directly. About Author Maxview Realty combines local real estate market knowledge with a selected group of experienced real estate experts to provide a full range of real estate consulting services covering research, consulting, valuation, leasing, sales, investment and asset management. Maxview Realty is to offer value-added services aligned with the business interests of clients throughout Shanghai. Disclaimer: Article submitters are solely responsible for the content of their articles. ArtiLib can't be held liable for the contents of the articles. Report Abuse | Browse By Category |
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