Hit The Road Jack! Moving House In Beijing

Ever watch that show Catfish? If you haven’t then allow me to walk you through the simple concept. A team of investigators and a film crew track down online tricksters catfishing people online, that is, “the process of luring someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona” according to the Oxford Dictionary. That will come in handy for this little anecdote. I relied on my friends’ network to try and find just the right housing agent. The right agent could mean the difference between a perfect abode and a hellish renting experience. I got a few contacts who showed me countless atrocious hovels. So I decided to take the route traveled by most renters in Beijing by downloading renting apps.

You would think this is a foolproof way of getting a perfect house. But as I discovered on my first outing with an agent from one of the popular renting apps, catfishing isn’t just restricted to dating sites. We agreed to meet so that he could show me an apartment I’d set my heart on, only to be taken to a different apartment entirely. Had it been as good as the one I’d seen, I wouldn’t have had a reason to complain. But it was worlds away from my requirements. For starters, it was smaller, above my price range, and in an area, I had explicitly said, I did not prefer. My charming agent then proceeded to inform me that some of the so-called houses available for rent on the site are just staged apartments, and are most likely rented or weren’t up for rent in the first place. This is not to say that all apps do this, or that this is true. My guess is that my enterprising agent saw an opportunity to make a few extra RMB without the company’s knowledge. I did have a great experience with other agents from other renting apps who showed me the exact same apartments in which I’d expressed interest.

Show me the money!

Renting in a city like Beijing isn’t a cheap affair. You might be one of the lucky few who are in a "pay monthly" arrangement. But for the vast majority of renters in Beijing, the 1+1+3 rule applies, especially when you are looking to move in. That means a month’s deposit, a month’s rent as commission to the housing agent, and three months’ rent. This amount of money is likely to leave you and your account positively winded at the thought! But never fear! If you are able to rent directly from the landlord, you are more likely to just pay the three months’ rent plus a month’s deposit upfront. Also, many landlords who directly rent their apartments are open to negotiating and changing terms as you go. You could initially pay monthly then switch to quarterly, or vice versa. Apps like Ziroom also offer a "pay monthly" option. Obviously, this comes at a premium. But it is better than nothing.

Sign on the dotted line, but...

There are a few steps you must follow to the letter to make you a legal foreign resident in Beijing. One, you must have a valid residency permit, then you must have a registered residence as per your housing contract. This involves bringing along your passport, valid contract, and the details of the landlord to your local police station’s domicile registration section. Beware of sub-letting schemes. In my search for a new apartment, I’ve gotten a few offers to sublet, with promises that all will be well, and the common refrain "many foreigners do it." One rather shrewd lady took me to two of her three rented apartments in the city, promising to explain my living in any of the properties as "a foreign friend living there while I am away" to the respective landlords should they have inquired. I declined, of course.

Marie Kondo and Taobao don’t mix

I will unashamedly admit I am a Taobao addict. I will even wake up in the middle of the night when I remember an item I’d bookmarked to buy on payday. But all of my midnight and ill-advised purchases have been coming back to haunt me during the move. It has been box after box of "why on earth did I buy this?" and "I have only worn this once," plus the all-important question – to toss or to keep? It’s made for a wonderful exercise in decluttering my closet, with most of the never-worn and too-small clothes intended for donation to Roundabout, once they are laundered of course. But aside from Taobao being a paradise for hoarders, it is also great for moving resources. You can get fantastic deals on moving boxes, large plastic tubs for things like shoes, and even lifting belts for shifting heavier items and lugging them up and down stairs.

If you are considering the big move, please keep in mind that with COVID-19 cases on the rise again in the city, communities might not be as open to allowing friends or movers in to help you shift your stuff. Talk to your current community’s management office to inform them of your impending move, and find out whether movers or moving vans will be allowed into your community. Happy moving!

This article originally appeared on our sister publication, beijingkids.

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Images: blackgracecowley.com, Ziroom, Unsplash, Taobao