New Digs

The apartment search was quite daunting in the beginning. We were told about some websites with flats-for-rent postings, but were warned that the postings are primarily those of real estate agents, who will charge a one month's rent commission on every deal. Communal building fees, electricity, heat, water and gas, were generally not included in the monthly rent. Alas, we needed to find a place to live.

Saturday morning, we hunkered down in our hotel room, our various maps splayed open, our dialing fingers at the ready, our self-consciousness dials set at "low", and our afternoon wide open for setting up viewings.

Apparently, not many agents work on Saturdays. We placed a bunch of calls - J and I taking turns at the telephone, since neither of us particularly enjoyed stumbling through what, with every call, could potentially present as a triple-language obstacle course.

A bunch of apartments were listed as "ready" (i.e. for moving in), though when we called, the agents informed us that the landlords had informed them that people were still living in the premises. That is, the listings were still valid, but maybe call back in March. A handful of landlords didn't want short-term renters -- and were holding out to sign yearly leases.

A couple of agents didn't pick up, but used their call-back functions or something -- we'd get calls from them soon after in our hotel room wondering why we'd called. We emailed some of the agents - some replied many days later. One flat advertised it contained a sauna -- unfortunately, it had been snapped up the day before.

We managed to set up 2 meetings that day. Surprisingly, the second one turned out to be the one -- a huge relief to not have to do any more searching. The landlord -- not an agent -- lives in the building, and wasn't including any commission in the deal. The place is newly renovated, with 2 storeys - kitchen, bathroom and living area below, and stairs up to a bedroom-loft. We agreed on the spot although there was no furniture. We were assured there was 'a possibility' of getting some things - mattresses, fridge, etc.


Karmically perhaps (in contrast to my recent experience back down ol' Coloniale way), we have the best landlord ever. He's since supplied us with a luxurious mattress pad, a table and chairs, 2 armchairs, a coatrack, hangers, a pot, a pan, mugs and some teaspoons. And he's arranged for us all to share three ways the monthly costs for wireless Internet service (belonging to another apartment in the building).

The neighbourhood is full of old wooden houses, many still heated with wood-burning stoves, which gives the area a peculiar, yet pleasant, smell.