Not everyone has the opportunity to hire a relocation company, so you need to plan ahead and do your research. If you are moving overseas for a year or more, it is always best, if possible, to visit the country ahead of time to familiarize yourself with the local culture and get a feel for the city where you might live. By doing this, it will help you determine if you should ship household belongings. In Turkey, you will probably rent an unfurnished home and acquire furniture locally, or you could choose a furnished place and acquire incidental items locally. By the way, renting furnished homes is not as common in Turkey as in some other countries.It seems that many of the foreigners who end up living in Turkey for a year or longer are usually people who first came on vacation. That’s what happened to me! I came here on vacation and decided to move here and do field research. Usually it is this type of person who won’t have access to the facilities of a relocation company and needs some tips on how to relocate abroad.
While on vacation here, being the sort of person who likes to talk with the locals of an area, I made some friends during the trip. Also you can get some good leads through the local English newspaper about international groups and some idea about real estate and jobs. In a country like Turkey, in-country connections are important to be on the safe side. If you have an in-country connection, such as a personal contact, employer or volunteer program director or international group, chances are that he or she can point you toward a reputable landlord or rental agency.
Some people just like to do it themselves as that is all part of the adventure abroad. If you prefer to find an apartment on your own after your arrival, give yourself enough time to explore your host city, ideally between two and four weeks depending on the size of the city. There are plenty of real estate agencies, but you may not be able to communicate with them.Some cater to expats, but they may only know about the high end of the market. For some reason, there is this assumption that all Westerners are wealthy.
Here are a few practical tips:
· Take a look at several apartments before committing.
· Find out about the safety of the neighborhood.
· Be sure to ask about utility costs, deposits, fees and penalties in case of an early cancellation.
· In signing the rental agreement, be sure the lessee and lessor, the address and location of the rented property, the purpose for which it will be used, the amount of rent, the date the lease will become effective and the period for which it is valid are clearly stated.
· Apart from the above, either party may add in writing on the contract any other special terms they desire. Both parties should be given a copy of the rental agreement.
· For long-term leases, consult a lawyer to protect you from being evicted if the landlord sells the property, etc.
· Depending on the neighborhood, some owners may ask for one year rent in advance; however, if a landlord thinks you’ll take care of the place and likes you, they may require less.
· Try to meet the conditions for vacating the premises; don’t be surprised if you don’t get the deposit back.
· It is common for the lessee to have to pay 10 percent of the year’s rental to the estate/rental agent as his fee.
· House hunting in İstanbul? Do give serious consideration about the proximity to what is important to you -- work, recreational and cultural facilities as well as commercial areas, and if you need a car or if you can depend on public transportation.
Many believe there is no better place where you can indulge in the richness of historical heritage; enjoy the vibrant urban life with its many state of the art shopping malls and variety of music festivals and films and take a walk along the Bosporus.
Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
