13/05: How to Save Money on Rent
If you come to Moscow for the first time it’s better to find an apartment before you arrive, as it will be much cheaper than a hotel. Currently there's a lack of quality 3-star hotels in Moscow, and since Rossiya hotel was set for reconstruction a year ago, there's very few rooms in the center of the city for less than $200 per night.
However, apartments in Moscow are not cheap and it's better to know a few tricks that will let you save the money.
In case you're thinking about renting an apartment for long-term later, it's better to use the same agency as the one you used for getting a short-term apartment. They'll probably give you a discount for the agency fee (which in Russia is usually a one-off payment that equals 1-month rent) , besides you'll know who you're dealing with. Usually the more well-known a real estate company is, the less is the probability of getting a discount, because they don't need to make much effort to win over potential clients. Their clients mostly come from corporate contracts, so they're not too keen on giving away the money they would earn anyway. So if you're making the move on your own or there's not a big corporation behind you that is ready to pay $10000 a month for a penthouse in a gated community, you're better off using smaller, but reputable companies. It's much better to arrange a possible discount beforehand and perhaps make it the condition on which you rent an apartment for short-term period.
If you’ve been living in Moscow for already a considerable period of time you may try to look for a place by using your personal contacts (e.g. using social networks, such as LinkedIn, Xing, or FaceBook) or by posting your ad on the Internet (e.g. Expat.Ru or WaytoRussia.Net forums).
Finding an apartment through your friends or internet may save you the agency fee though you may run the risk of dealing with non-reliable and unfair landlords and in case of any trouble you’ll have to pull through all by yourself. To ensure that everything is OK, you should check the property documents of your landlord (it's even better if they have "propiska" - "registration" at the apartment) and also make sure that you get what you're promised. You should also make sure that the landlord will be able to help you with the registration of your visa (that's where his "propiska" becomes handy).
Once, a teacher working for a language school found and apartment without any agency’s assistance. The apartment was unfurnished but the owners promised to by all necessary furnishings and equipment on receiving the first month rent and security deposit from the tenant. Can you imagine the great surprise of the teacher when having arrived to the apartment he found there furnishings that “that dates as far back as the Crimean war”. No money was reimbursed to him.
As for the prices in Moscow real estate market they are very high and continue to go up by 25-30% per year. Four years ago one could find a nice studio apartment in the center for $500; nowadays such place would cost at the least $1500, and for a one-bedroom apartment you’ll have to pay $2500 at the minimum (we’re not taking in consideration old Russian style apartments of 1980th.) And you might need to look for your perfect place for about 3 months, until you find the perfect combination of price, area, and living conditions. It seems like in the current situation when the prices are quite high, it's better to pay a bit more (if you can afford it) and get a central 1-bedroom flat for about $2500 / month rather than getting a small studio outside of the center for $1500 / month or so.
According to Svetlana Bulgakova, expert agent of ASTONS company, foreigners having come to Moscow for the first time and having inspected a number of apartments are sometimes very disappointed with the difference between what they expected to find and the real situation in the market, as a result they have either to spend more than expected or lower their standards. Though there is a possibility to negotiate down the price – by making an upfront payment for several months, this way one can save up to 20% of month rent.
By the way, the widespread rumor that the landlords intentionally overprice their properties when leasing them to the foreign clients is not true. ”This is absolutely wrong” – says Svetlana. “On the contrary, Russians still have a strong belief that foreigners are more predictable, steady and reliable persons, unwilling to break the lease, that is why very often they are considered to be more preferable tenants”.
This studio apartment above costs in May about $1700 US / month and is located next to Preobrazhenskaya Square metro, which is about 15 mins from the center by metro.
This one-bedroom apartment above costs in May about $2500 US / month and is located on Tsetnoy Boulevard metro station, in the center of the city.
--------
This publication is the first one from a series of publications prepared by ASTONS real estate agency about real estate market in Moscow.
You can view their offers for short-term rent at Way to Russia Apartment Listings and if you'd like to get in touch with them about the long-term rent, you can call +7 495 984 66 42 or send a message through the contact form for one of their flats on Way to Russia.
However, apartments in Moscow are not cheap and it's better to know a few tricks that will let you save the money.
In case you're thinking about renting an apartment for long-term later, it's better to use the same agency as the one you used for getting a short-term apartment. They'll probably give you a discount for the agency fee (which in Russia is usually a one-off payment that equals 1-month rent) , besides you'll know who you're dealing with. Usually the more well-known a real estate company is, the less is the probability of getting a discount, because they don't need to make much effort to win over potential clients. Their clients mostly come from corporate contracts, so they're not too keen on giving away the money they would earn anyway. So if you're making the move on your own or there's not a big corporation behind you that is ready to pay $10000 a month for a penthouse in a gated community, you're better off using smaller, but reputable companies. It's much better to arrange a possible discount beforehand and perhaps make it the condition on which you rent an apartment for short-term period.
If you’ve been living in Moscow for already a considerable period of time you may try to look for a place by using your personal contacts (e.g. using social networks, such as LinkedIn, Xing, or FaceBook) or by posting your ad on the Internet (e.g. Expat.Ru or WaytoRussia.Net forums).
Finding an apartment through your friends or internet may save you the agency fee though you may run the risk of dealing with non-reliable and unfair landlords and in case of any trouble you’ll have to pull through all by yourself. To ensure that everything is OK, you should check the property documents of your landlord (it's even better if they have "propiska" - "registration" at the apartment) and also make sure that you get what you're promised. You should also make sure that the landlord will be able to help you with the registration of your visa (that's where his "propiska" becomes handy).
Once, a teacher working for a language school found and apartment without any agency’s assistance. The apartment was unfurnished but the owners promised to by all necessary furnishings and equipment on receiving the first month rent and security deposit from the tenant. Can you imagine the great surprise of the teacher when having arrived to the apartment he found there furnishings that “that dates as far back as the Crimean war”. No money was reimbursed to him.
As for the prices in Moscow real estate market they are very high and continue to go up by 25-30% per year. Four years ago one could find a nice studio apartment in the center for $500; nowadays such place would cost at the least $1500, and for a one-bedroom apartment you’ll have to pay $2500 at the minimum (we’re not taking in consideration old Russian style apartments of 1980th.) And you might need to look for your perfect place for about 3 months, until you find the perfect combination of price, area, and living conditions. It seems like in the current situation when the prices are quite high, it's better to pay a bit more (if you can afford it) and get a central 1-bedroom flat for about $2500 / month rather than getting a small studio outside of the center for $1500 / month or so.
According to Svetlana Bulgakova, expert agent of ASTONS company, foreigners having come to Moscow for the first time and having inspected a number of apartments are sometimes very disappointed with the difference between what they expected to find and the real situation in the market, as a result they have either to spend more than expected or lower their standards. Though there is a possibility to negotiate down the price – by making an upfront payment for several months, this way one can save up to 20% of month rent.
By the way, the widespread rumor that the landlords intentionally overprice their properties when leasing them to the foreign clients is not true. ”This is absolutely wrong” – says Svetlana. “On the contrary, Russians still have a strong belief that foreigners are more predictable, steady and reliable persons, unwilling to break the lease, that is why very often they are considered to be more preferable tenants”.
This studio apartment above costs in May about $1700 US / month and is located next to Preobrazhenskaya Square metro, which is about 15 mins from the center by metro.
This one-bedroom apartment above costs in May about $2500 US / month and is located on Tsetnoy Boulevard metro station, in the center of the city.
--------
This publication is the first one from a series of publications prepared by ASTONS real estate agency about real estate market in Moscow.
You can view their offers for short-term rent at Way to Russia Apartment Listings and if you'd like to get in touch with them about the long-term rent, you can call +7 495 984 66 42 or send a message through the contact form for one of their flats on Way to Russia.
Total Votes: 1 - Rating: 5.00
Del.Icio.Us
Digg.Com
michele wrote: