Saturday, February 9, 2019

HOUSING MARKET: WHY FINDING A FLAT IS SO DIFFICULT


If you are looking for a flat in Germany and maybe you are still a student or you already bring a whole family, you have bad cards. Why is that?

FIRST HURDLE: BROKERS, LANDLORDS, OTHER TENANTS

If you are looking for an apartment, you have to be good with people. Many of them are not exactly the contemporaries with whom one would like to spend their time, because they are arrogant, conceited and not very nice to their fellow human beings. We are talking about brokers and landlords, and we apologize to all those who are not and really want to rent an apartment. But there are, the brokers and landlords who fulfill every cliché presented to us by television or other media. The want to demand a horrendous price for a dump and thus in the worst case, even succeed.
Those who take advantage of the plight of the apartment seekers and ensure that their entire industry is discredited. Meanwhile, the apartment inspection is like a job interview, to which you should bring the police certificate of good conduct right away. You also need an application folder, which you should bring with you on each appointment and which contains all the necessary (and unnecessary) documents. Then the search on the housing market can start!

WRITTEN APPLICATION DESIRED?

Anyone who wants to introduce himself privately to a landlord or would like to move into a room in a shared flat must apply in writing. More and more often it is required that such application letters are sent to the first contact. In a flat share, of course, the most important content is that you will follow the cleaning plan and that you are tidy and bring relaxation to the group. Say: They provide for the supply of beer and other drinks! In the case of housing companies and conservative brokers, on the other hand, it is more important for you to be conservative as well, naturally well-to-do and always nice and quiet. Your kids do not make a noise - moment. Which children?
Of course you are not allowed to bring any children! They'll move on all of a sudden later. One way or another, many landlords imagine future life. Baby roar or the noise of small children is not desired, in the house it should stay nice and quiet. If there are children, then they should be older or the family is welcome to move to the outskirts. Whether there is affordable housing or even an apartment from which the children also come to kindergarten and school is not of interest. The main thing, nobody from the other tenants complains!

SURVIVE THE JOB INTERVIEW

The job interview, which is supposed to be a visit, serves to get to know the landlord or broker and apartment interested. However, the main thing is to find out if the potential tenant is sufficiently wealthy and could not later prove to be a disruptive factor. Thus, you must present yourself as a true dream tenant and return all the positive qualities that you have and of which you have already heard. You have discovered a flaw on the apartment? Please, that's it. You can go, there are already a hundred other applicants who take the apartment with a kiss.
Remember: Only the landlord or the broker may always address a flaw. Unfortunately, we would like to add at this point that this is an overdrawn account, but unfortunately that is not the case. Unfortunately, the difficult search for accommodation, which seems to be impossibility especially for families, is unfortunately a daily routine and delusions are waiting everywhere, which do not turn out to be funny, but rather as a gross faux pas.
This leads to you being able to look at another apartment. Up to 20 cancellations are not uncommon, this is especially true for students and families. This is also alarming in that there are many regions and places where apartments are empty or where even the active dismantling of new buildings is operated because the premises are not for rent. However, this is more the case in rural areas, in conurbations the opposite state of emergency prevails.

WHEN TO LOOK FOR AN APARTMENT?

There are even certain times when finding a flat is more successful than in others:
             during the holidays is the least searched
             also in November and December there is a "Suchtief"
             From January on, the number of people looking for a flat will increase steadily
             from January to Easter and then to about June / July is high season
             Property with garden or terrace is booming in spring
             seasonal trend especially for land with garden, less for apartments
These findings were won by various real estate agents and landlords. But even the seekers themselves find the summer to change the most beautiful, then follows the spring. Only a few people would like to move in autumn, the number of people relocating in winter is negligible. However, those who have to move professionally can not be guided by seasonal sensitivities.
If you are looking for an apartment, you should follow this advice: Find a flat when others are not looking for it, and especially use autumn, winter or summer vacations to search. The chance to win the contract is increasing in these times.

TIPS FOR FINDING A FLAT

Preparation is the key to success when looking for a place to live. Therefore, think carefully about what you are looking for: How many rooms and square meters do you need and would you like to live centrally? Is also an apartment on the outskirts of the city interesting and need a connection to public transport? Should the bathroom be equipped with natural light and would you like a balcony? Write two lists: On one come the wishes that really need to be met, on the other hand those who would just be beautiful and let the apartment become an absolute dream home. The second list contains the points that you could possibly do without.
Start the search at least three to four months before the date you want to move to. But do not quit the old apartment prematurely, because there are regions, because the mentioned period is much too short. Especially in densely populated areas or close to universities, you will soon find out that finding a place to search for a needle can be a problem in a haystack. It is important that you are not under time pressure. It's important to search in metropolitan areas: from the beginning you can assume that you have to reduce your expectations and look for compromises.
Do not just rely on ads on the Internet or in the newspaper, but use all the channels available when looking for your dream home. Many apartments are not even advertised, so you should also listen to the circle of acquaintances. By word of mouth more apartments are rented than expected! It is also possible to place a search ad yourself, through which a broker or owner can contact. However, you need a bit of luck and maybe a bit of creativity when formulating an ad.
When you first contact the broker or landlord, you already have the information you need. Especially if you want to move in as a family: questions about the income are common. Be sure to address the appropriate person correctly and avoid general phrases. Suggest an appointment for the visit or ask for a suggestion yourself. Enter your full name and address and attach a letter of motivation when you contact us in writing.

OBSTACLES DURING THE VISIT

Not only the search itself is difficult, even the visit can become a single pitfall. As already described, the viewing appointment today is rather a job interview in which it is important to present yourself as comprehensively and positively as possible. It's less about the apartment than about you! Make sure that the chemistry between you and the landlord or broker is right, which often requires a certain acting talent. Wear proper clothes, pay attention to punctuality and decency.
For example, ask if you can enter the apartment wearing shoes. What should be taken for granted, seems to be out nowadays. Thus, you stand out with such a banal question positively from many other applicants.

WELL PREPARED FOR VIEWING: YOU SHOULD BRING THESE DOCUMENTS WITH YOU

It is important that you go to your application (inspection of the apartment) only completely equipped. Among other things, therefore, bring your identity card so that you can identify yourself. In addition, you should copy it beforehand, so you can leave the duplicate immediately with the broker or landlord or attach your documents.
Your application folder also includes proof of income and tenant self-assessment. It's about your income, your marital status, whether you smoke or not, whether you have children, whether you bring pets or want to keep them later. No one is required to provide this information, but you can be sure that you will be sorted out directly if you refuse to answer the relevant questions.
This also applies to unacceptable questions about pregnancy or religious affiliation: Nobody has to answer these questions. However, given the situation on the housing market, it is clear that, if properly selected, the broker will choose the prospective tenants to answer his questions. However, it is permissible that you lie and that the landlord can not verify at least at the moment.
Also important is the Schufa information, so that the broker can better assess your payment practices and knows whether you may already have debts.
Do not forget to attach a personal description! You are no longer in the faceless mass of applicants, but the broker or landlord can better classify you. This also applies to the search for accommodation by students. Here, the personal description should include the remaining study time and the field of study. Imagine yourself as single-minded and success-oriented, two qualities landlords attach great importance to.
It may be useful to include a reason why you are looking for an apartment and why it should be just this apartment. In principle, these are the contents of the motivation letter, which you should attach to the folder anyway. Assume that the broker will retain the application books and arrange an appointment to return directly with him. In most cases he will want to console you with "I'll contact you". Please ask him for a specific date or at least a deadline, because this gives you the opportunity to ask for the current status and, if necessary, to reclaim the application folder.


 


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