Like Tree12Likes

Newbie Question - Rental Negotiation

Closed Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
  1. #11

    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Posts
    5
    Quote Originally Posted by jgl:
    With efficient agents, you can see a lot more places in a day- they'll have access to multiple apartments and you don't need to contact and book lots of individual landlords.
    Makes sense - what should a reasonable commission rate be?

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Manchester, UK
    Posts
    7,790
    Quote Originally Posted by Leocan:
    Makes sense - what should a reasonable commission rate be?
    1/2 months rental from you and the land lord is the normal commission, can always try to negotiate
    jrkob and MandM! like this.

  3. #13

    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Posts
    2

    Thanks for the advice everyone, it has been really useful.
    Think I’ll be hanging fire until I arrive in HK and then take up the search! I did also look on the 28hse website earlier (which was new to me) which seems to have apartments listed at more competitive rates than Midland Realty... but as mentioned above, will take that with a pinch of salt.


  4. #14

    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    DB
    Posts
    3,699
    Quote Originally Posted by threelittlepigs:
    Here is a nice looking flat just advertised here on this site: https://geoexpat.com/classifieds/apa...rent/ad/454325
    Looks nice but wonder why there are no photos of the two bedrooms....

  5. #15

    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Posts
    6,531

    Use the first month's rent provided by the employer to stay in a serviced apartment. Get to know neighborhoods and look for a specific building that looks like it might meet your requirements (e.g. off of a main road), as with the high rises there will be multiple units available at any given time. You can even figure out if flat A, B, C, etc. is the "best" one of a building then ask agents for any available. Like others say, look for agencies around the area you want to go. Every other shop is an agent, so no problem finding them. The advice to say a lower price range is very good. Agents are terrible about showing you things that are higher than your stated budget, which will of course be nice! And, yes, be pushy with them and very clear about what you want (e.g. high floor, bright light, modern kitchen), because in the end you are paying a pretty high price for a service and they do sometimes waste your time!

    As some other threads mentioned, be careful about seeing the same apartment with different agents. Agents will want you to sign that if you see an apartment you see with them, you're expected to get it through them (and not another agent). Usually they will print out a list of all the apartments they will show you, and so you should keep track if you already saw one with another agent.

    I think it can really pay off to look in classified ads for apartments directly from the landlord. In my experience you get a better price and don't have to pay the agency fee. Agents do inflate the prices (duh), so definitely try to negotiate and expect to have to agree for something higher than your offer.

    Also, it's helpful if you view a flat at two different times of the day.


  6. #16

    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    HK
    Posts
    1,781
    Quote Originally Posted by Fiona in HKG:
    Looks nice but wonder why there are no photos of the two bedrooms....
    You can see a sliver of one. Landlord did say more pics were available. Good price for the size. Must be an old building. The 10’ ceiling will make the place feel bigger.

  7. #17

    hi there,

    u can try 28hse and rent.591.com
    i think 591 is more reliable than 28hse, as 28hse has many fake ads, so many ads i have inquired a month ago and replied as rent out, but i search yesterday, the ads was still there.

    but for 591.com, i hv inquired for 4-5 apartment, all are available to view. so you can try

    also can try homates.com/ easyroomates.com
    for the good apartment/ good deal, you need to spend some times to catch, as good deal (with reasonable price) gone very fast.
    only the ridiculous price property always hanging there.


  8. #18

    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    South of Sweden
    Posts
    4,028
    Quote Originally Posted by Plutark:
    Also never give your real budget to an agent. If your range is 25-32 they will try to shove flats in mid 30 to 40 range. They will also show you a few horrible flats then an okish one. Stand your ground and leave if they don't show you what you want.
    Very true. I had this experience when looking for our first flat in HKG. In the end I got really cranky and told the agent that I would drop him and find another who will show me flats that my husband's company budgeted for. The agent was showing me flats for sale, telling me, " oh, you could have this" when we were only looking to rent. Look for somewhere not necessarily 'close' to your workplace but from where access of transport is easy or doable. If you are working in Central, there is nothing wrong with looking for a place on the outer islands where the rent is cheaper and more negotiable. Ours was and we found the rent almost half for a quiet village house than what we paid for a mid levels flat that was noisy from all of the construction going on.

  9. #19

    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Posts
    5
    Quote Originally Posted by Elegiaque:

    I think it can really pay off to look in classified ads for apartments directly from the landlord. In my experience you get a better price and don't have to pay the agency fee. Agents do inflate the prices (duh), so definitely try to negotiate and expect to have to agree for something higher than your offer.

    Also, it's helpful if you view a flat at two different times of the day.
    Do you have any specific classifieds you're referring to (aside from the geoexpat one)?

  10. #20

    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Posts
    6,531
    Quote Originally Posted by Leocan:
    Do you have any specific classifieds you're referring to (aside from the geoexpat one)?
    No, just those. Though sometimes Wellcome will have a community notice board.