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Settling
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Settling
Renting
Rental options
Many employers provide a stipend, or even a pre-arranged apartment, as part of the contract. Some will also recommend housing agents. But if you want a little more choice in where you live and what you pay, there are a few ways to go about finding an apartment in Shenzhen.
Co-living Apartments
For those who prefer temporary homes that offer independent living spaces, reflect their taste in design and facilitate their social lives, co-living apartments may be a good choice. These long-term, multi-sized stylish rental spaces have gained popularity among young urbanites in China. Most of these rental apartments feature amenities like gyms, lobbies, pool tables, libraries and gaming rooms, where you get to meet and mingle with your neighbors. A 24-hour service is also available to handle any problems that may arise. Usually these apartments charge around 20 percent more than traditional rental apartments, approximately 2,000RMB-7,000RMB per month, depending on the location and room size.
Boyu by Vanke:https://www.inboyu.com
Guanyu by Longfor:http://sz.iguanyu.com/
Big+ Apartment by Country:http://www.bgy-bigplus.com/sz/
Strongberry by Gemdale: http://www.strongberry.cn/
Langshiyu by Landsea Group:https://www.langshiyu.com/
CJIA by Huazhu:https://www.cjia.com/
Jjyuecheng by Jinqi
Apartment One by Zhaoshang Shekou
Agents
Fees: The standard agent fee is one month' s rent. The standard security deposit is two months' rent.
A common tactic among rental agents is to show places that are below your standards and then try to upsell you. Here are some tips for finding the apartment you want before you' re at the end of your rape:
-Know the price range in the area and be clear about the range you are willing to accept.
-Don' t rush. Frustration is like blood in the water to an agent with a bunch of bad apartments to unload.
-Clearly enumerate what things you cannot live without to avoid wasting time looking at bad apartments: western toilet, natural light, balcony, elevator, enclosed shower, furnishing, etc.
-Aim for midrange. The cheapest apartments are usually cheap for a reason: present or future construction, far from transport, street noise, bad natural light, pests, etc.
You can find a decent rundown of popular expat areas and their various characteristics and price ranges here: https://www.wellcee.com/Shenzhen/Rent-Apartment.
Agencies and local corner outlets
There are some comprehensive rental agencies that specialize in finding apartments for foreigners. They represent high value apartments in high demand areas, which generally rent for around 8,000- 20.000RMB per month. They provide English-language services, help with setting up Internet and TV services, and bill payment, and may even check the utility meters to help you understand where exactly your monthly payments are going. You can find a list of some agents here:
http://www.shenzhenparty.com/apartments/realestate-agencies
If you know where you would like to live, you can go to the neighborhood and find a number of small storefronts with listings on the outside windows and a bunch of young agents inside decked out in business casual attire. You can' t miss them. They usually don' t speak much English, if any, but if you give them an idea of what you are looking for they can show you some options and communicate the basic numbers involved via phone translation.
Some common agencies: Lianjia, Centaline Property, Midland Realty, Jiajiashun Real Estate, Century21.
There are also freelance agents who work via WeChat moments and groups, and they often charge lower agent fees. They develop a list of represented properties and post vacancies as they open up. They will also help you narrow down a list of apartments based on your particular needs. These agents usually have a larger pool of low-priced apartments to choose from because they work for both locals and foreigners looking to live farther away from the city center. The bottom of their price range is usually around 4,000-5,000RMB per month. Ask around in expat groups and surf online to locate some of these gems.
Platforms
Websites and apps are a great resource to narrow down your search. Sometimes you can get lucky and cut out the middle-man to rent directly from a landlord. They also come in handy if you are trying to rent a room in an apartment or sublet for the summer. In some areas, it is easier to find a three bedroom apartment than a two bedroom, and because the rooms may feel small, it can be an affordable luxury to have an extra room as a little office getaway, or for storage, and then find a roommate.
Some useful apartment search websites: 58.com, ziroom.com, wellcee.com, anjuke.com, shenzhenparty.com
Bao' an inquiry
For the intrepid travelers among us who have a workable knowledge of the Chinese language and love finding a good deal, you can try going to a neighborhood you are interested in, approaching the security guards at the gates of the housing estates and simply asking them about any vacancies. They will get a kick out of talking with a " laowai" and might be able to connect you directly with a landlord.
Urban villages：Building posts and neighborhood agents
If you don' t have much money or just have low standards, such as not needing an elevator, kitchen or enclosed shower, a similar approach can work in the older communities called K urban villages." There will often be listings posted on the sides of buildings along with phone numbers. Sometimes the details on these posts are fake, so when you call you will receive a response saying the place you are inquiring about was just rented out, but they will then offer to show you other similar apartments in the area. They will often try to upsell you, so be as clear as possible about your requirements and price ceiling to avoid wasting time. You can find single bedroom apartments in these villages for as low as 1,500RMB, but sometimes the landlords will be unwilling to rent to foreigners.
Chinese people who have lived in the city for a while will have more connections with small-time local agents. If you are able to make friends with people who live in urban villages, most often young migrant workers or recent college graduates, they might be able to introduce you to a neighborhood agent who will show you some apartments and charge a fraction of the standard agent fee.
Renting
Rental options
Many employers provide a stipend, or even a pre-arranged apartment, as part of the contract. Some will also recommend housing agents. But if you want a little more choice in where you live and what you pay, there are a few ways to go about finding an apartment in Shenzhen.
Co-living Apartments
For those who prefer temporary homes that offer independent living spaces, reflect their taste in design and facilitate their social lives, co-living apartments may be a good choice. These long-term, multi-sized stylish rental spaces have gained popularity among young urbanites in China. Most of these rental apartments feature amenities like gyms, lobbies, pool tables, libraries and gaming rooms, where you get to meet and mingle with your neighbors. A 24-hour service is also available to handle any problems that may arise. Usually these apartments charge around 20 percent more than traditional rental apartments, approximately 2,000RMB-7,000RMB per month, depending on the location and room size.
Boyu by Vanke:https://www.inboyu.com
Guanyu by Longfor:http://sz.iguanyu.com/
Big+ Apartment by Country:http://www.bgy-bigplus.com/sz/
Strongberry by Gemdale: http://www.strongberry.cn/
Langshiyu by Landsea Group:https://www.langshiyu.com/
CJIA by Huazhu:https://www.cjia.com/
Jjyuecheng by Jinqi
Apartment One by Zhaoshang Shekou
Agents
Fees: The standard agent fee is one month' s rent. The standard security deposit is two months' rent.
A common tactic among rental agents is to show places that are below your standards and then try to upsell you. Here are some tips for finding the apartment you want before you' re at the end of your rape:
-Know the price range in the area and be clear about the range you are willing to accept.
-Don' t rush. Frustration is like blood in the water to an agent with a bunch of bad apartments to unload.
-Clearly enumerate what things you cannot live without to avoid wasting time looking at bad apartments: western toilet, natural light, balcony, elevator, enclosed shower, furnishing, etc.
-Aim for midrange. The cheapest apartments are usually cheap for a reason: present or future construction, far from transport, street noise, bad natural light, pests, etc.
You can find a decent rundown of popular expat areas and their various characteristics and price ranges here: https://www.wellcee.com/Shenzhen/Rent-Apartment.
Agencies and local corner outlets
There are some comprehensive rental agencies that specialize in finding apartments for foreigners. They represent high value apartments in high demand areas, which generally rent for around 8,000- 20.000RMB per month. They provide English-language services, help with setting up Internet and TV services, and bill payment, and may even check the utility meters to help you understand where exactly your monthly payments are going. You can find a list of some agents here:
http://www.shenzhenparty.com/apartments/realestate-agencies
If you know where you would like to live, you can go to the neighborhood and find a number of small storefronts with listings on the outside windows and a bunch of young agents inside decked out in business casual attire. You can' t miss them. They usually don' t speak much English, if any, but if you give them an idea of what you are looking for they can show you some options and communicate the basic numbers involved via phone translation.
Some common agencies: Lianjia, Centaline Property, Midland Realty, Jiajiashun Real Estate, Century21.
There are also freelance agents who work via WeChat moments and groups, and they often charge lower agent fees. They develop a list of represented properties and post vacancies as they open up. They will also help you narrow down a list of apartments based on your particular needs. These agents usually have a larger pool of low-priced apartments to choose from because they work for both locals and foreigners looking to live farther away from the city center. The bottom of their price range is usually around 4,000-5,000RMB per month. Ask around in expat groups and surf online to locate some of these gems.
Platforms
Websites and apps are a great resource to narrow down your search. Sometimes you can get lucky and cut out the middle-man to rent directly from a landlord. They also come in handy if you are trying to rent a room in an apartment or sublet for the summer. In some areas, it is easier to find a three bedroom apartment than a two bedroom, and because the rooms may feel small, it can be an affordable luxury to have an extra room as a little office getaway, or for storage, and then find a roommate.
Some useful apartment search websites: 58.com, ziroom.com, wellcee.com, anjuke.com, shenzhenparty.com
Bao' an inquiry
For the intrepid travelers among us who have a workable knowledge of the Chinese language and love finding a good deal, you can try going to a neighborhood you are interested in, approaching the security guards at the gates of the housing estates and simply asking them about any vacancies. They will get a kick out of talking with a " laowai" and might be able to connect you directly with a landlord.
Urban villages：Building posts and neighborhood agents
If you don' t have much money or just have low standards, such as not needing an elevator, kitchen or enclosed shower, a similar approach can work in the older communities called K urban villages." There will often be listings posted on the sides of buildings along with phone numbers. Sometimes the details on these posts are fake, so when you call you will receive a response saying the place you are inquiring about was just rented out, but they will then offer to show you other similar apartments in the area. They will often try to upsell you, so be as clear as possible about your requirements and price ceiling to avoid wasting time. You can find single bedroom apartments in these villages for as low as 1,500RMB, but sometimes the landlords will be unwilling to rent to foreigners.
Chinese people who have lived in the city for a while will have more connections with small-time local agents. If you are able to make friends with people who live in urban villages, most often young migrant workers or recent college graduates, they might be able to introduce you to a neighborhood agent who will show you some apartments and charge a fraction of the standard agent fee.
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