Six Ways To Find Your Dream Flat

Late summer means the start of a new school year and the beginning of a new university semester.
What's more, it is the end of the holiday season. And somehow the comings and goings, the arrivals and departures within the expat community seem to adapt themselves, appearing to rearrange themselves according to that annually recurring rhythm.
And that does not just include those among us who travel with children or who are employed at a university. Actually, most expats fall into neither category. There is a seasonal factor to be taken care of as well: Assuming you move from the cold north to the warm south, packing up in the middle of winter is simply impractical. Few would want to go flat-hunting on icy roads, hence renting out your own apartment will prove time-consuming. Besides, at the other end, many landlords may stop advertising during the (relatively) colder months, expecting little traffic, so to speak, anyway.
How to go about it? Expats in Turkey have a huge choice, not only with regard to top quality housing, but also as far as the “how to” for locating the right property.
The obvious: Go to a real estate agent, called an “emlakçı.” In a metropolis and along the Sunshine Belt, English is widely spoken and there is most definitely an office near where you are searching. Often they will take you to the flat then and there, unless an appointment must be made. It is fast and reliable, but please remember that the agent will charge a fee, and quite naturally so. In a nutshell: one month's rent as deposit, one month's rent upfront, one month's rent agency fee. In some instances, the month's deposit has turned into 1,000 euros or dollars, so always ask.
Then there are the real estate sections of the big nationwide daily newspapers, usually with a very good choice on weekends. Here, both agents and owners advertise directly; the section to look for is rentals, “kiralık.” In the latter case, you would not have to pay the agency fee. Many of these pages are available online with a search function allowing you to browse not only today's edition but thousands of flats, including photos. It may be a good idea to ask a friend or colleague to accompany you on your first viewing. Turkey is a very safe place to rent a flat, but what we do in London or Berlin makes good common sense anywhere else, too!
Third option: social media. I know of chat forums and sites where fellow expats and/or local real estate agents advertise their property. A search tip: city/town name plus “apartments for rent/sale.” But search on that social media platform and don't do a Google search as such or you will probably be redirected to the above mentioned newspapers once more!
Number four? Word of mouth works everywhere. Is there a fifth alternative? If big housing estates are your thing, go to the site manager. If a flat is up for rent instead of for sale they will know and hold the keys, too. And most likely no agency fee will be charged.
Finally, if you are lucky, your company or embassy or university will do all the work for you and arrange for suitable accommodation before you are here. That is of course the easiest option, but according to my personal experience, going flat-hunting in a new country brings you closer to that new location. It takes time while you stay in a hotel, but it is you who decides, who views maybe 10, 15 or so properties before committing; it is you who checks out neighborhoods. Flat-hunting overseas: a great way to kick-start your expat life experience.

KLAUS JURGENS (Cihan/Today's Zaman)