Finding domestic bliss in Germany

Moving to Germany for a finite or temporary stay can bear some unforeseen challenges. Since approximately 50% of Germans rent their living space, furthermore taking into consideration that your stay is limited you wouldn’t really consider buying a house or an apartment. However there are certain unexpected challenges you need to keep in mind when renting an apartment or a house.

Description of the apartment

Confusion starts when browsing the web for online apartment listings. Germans have a different way of proclaiming the number of rooms for an apartment. For example, if you want a bedroom, a living room and dining room, you are actually looking for a three room apartment. Kitchen, bathroom and hall are not counted for as rooms.

Furnished or unfurnished apartment

Unfortunately Germans rarely rent out furnished apartments. A lot of them are unfurnished, but that implies that “unfurnished” literally means exactly that. You won’t even find a build in closet, cabinets or else in an unfurnished apartment.

Renting furniture and its boundaries

There are companies that rent out furniture. However, that doesn’t imply kitchen tools or other necessities i.e. a washing machine, cutlery, bed linen.

Bureaucratic obstacles

Another issue, worthwhile mentioning, that it would be advisable to employ the services of a lawyer or legal advisor before signing a lease. Even if you speak excellent German, the lease may be filled with legal terms and complicated sentence structure, making it impossible to fully comprehend the contract. It might even contain a pitfall like an annual rent increase.

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How can you avoid the above mentioned struggles? Is it possible to move to Germany without trouble and confusion? Here’s the good news! There are several ways to find support:

Relocation Agencies
There are companies that are specialized in moving and relocating people. They are so called relocation agencies – set up to relieve employees of the issues and troubles that occur when moving to a new country. They offer a wide range of services and provide aid in every aspect of you relocation. The offered service range from Visa struggles, working permissions, transport, to finding housing. Relocating without any assistance and help can quickly evolve into a matter of frustration, confusion and surrender.
Therefore try to find as much information as possible in order to find a relocation agency that fits your personal needs the most.

DIY – get relevant information from former expats
On the other hand, when planning a most cost efficient relocation without hiring a relocation agency, it is possible to do so with the right advice from informative websites, e.g. expat blogs, expat help forums that provide knowledge and “best-way-solutions” on how to maneuver Germany’s bureaucracy jungle and deal with day to day business.

Online platforms which offer furnished apartments: simple & fast
Nonetheless the relocation agencies are costly. If your company has covered all other issues/relevant matter for your stay in Germany and your only concern is finding the perfect apartment, you should browse the internet for platforms who offer furnished apartments e.g. Home like Home. These platforms are currently on the rise and receive great reviews. Usually, they already cover every legal matter/contractual issue and have high standards in furnishing and service that they provide. An additional plus is the booking process, that is entirely handled online.