Flat/Apartment Search Part 2

In part 1, I concentrated more in the discussion of whether to live in a city apartment or a flat in the suburb. Should you decide to live in a suburb, may maliit na problema lang. How would you know which suburb is better as far as commuting, schools, and security is concerned? This is where you will need the advice of someone who has lived in NZ. And even with that, there is no straight answer. Depending on who you talked to you may get a different answer.

Someone who hasn’t lived in Northshore, Auckland may advise you not to live there because of the traffic. But I and lots of Pinoys live in the Northshore and drive to the CBD to work everyday and I find the traffic there no worse or better than the traffic to and from South and West Auckland. Some might say avoid South Auckland because the crime rate there is high. Relative to the rest of Auckland, that’s true. But compared to our country, it's nothing. Besides rent and the cost of food and commodities there is cheaper.

To be safe, my advice to new migrants who decide to live in a suburb is to find a flat not too far from the CBD. Perhaps 15 kilometers from the CBD at the most. And if ever you enter into a tenancy contract, sign for 6 months only. This way, you’re not tied to the place for a long period should you find the suburb not to your liking.

When is the best time to start looking for a flat/apartment? Start searching for a flat 2 to 3 weeks before your arrival. Searching for a flat more than 3 weeks in advance is a waste of time, unless you are willing to commence a tenancy contract way in advance of your arrival date in NZ. Normally kasi kapag inadvertise ang flat, it is either vacant or would become vacant in a few days. Kung and dating mo sa NZ is 2 months pa, hindi naman i-re-reserba sa iyo ang flat nung may-ari kung meron siyang makikitang ibang tenants na willing nang lumipat. Otherwise, matatalo sila dahil may time na vacant ang flat at hindi kumikita.

Once you found a flat, how much money do you need pay up front upon signing a contract? Ang normal na arrangement sa landlord is 2 weeks + 2 weeks. Ibig sabihin nito, 2 weeks rent advance at 2 weeks bond. Which means kung ang rent is $300 per week, you’ll need to pay $1200 to the landlord before he hands you the keys to the flat. Yung bond, refundable yon or part of it later kapag umalis ka na sa flat. Yung ibang landlord, may mga property managers, who will also charge 1 week as a letting fee. Bayad yun sa property manager for his services ng paghahanap ng tenant. It would be better to find a flat/apartment na walang property manager para di ka na kailangan magbayad ng letting fee. Sayang din yon.

How do you go about reserving a flat para naman pagdating mo at ng iyong pamilya may matitirhan na kayo? It’s not easy if you are not in NZ. Landlords would prefer dealing with someone they can talk to in person. Kung wala ka pa sa NZ, hesitant silang makipag-deal sa iyo. Mas madali kung may kaibigan ka o kamag-anak na siyang mag-rerepresent sa yo sa pakikipagusap sa landlord. Kung wala kang kamag-anak o kaibigan, ano ang pwede mong gawin? Kontakin mo si “Pinoy Kiwi Brother”. Next post ipapakilala ko si Pinoy Kiwi Brother. Abangan.