Finding a place to live: When is a House a Home?

For internationals worldwide, finding a house or apartment in a new city/country is about much more than identifying the premises where you will live (regardless of whether you are buying or renting). Finding a place to live subconsciously becomes a vital step in ensuring you can settle in an unfamiliar environment. 

There are practical things on the checklist of requirements: number of bedrooms; proximity to work, school, or both; accommodating potential visitors from overseas; parking; garden/no garden; etc. The list can be endless. A highly recommended starting point for all newcomers to a city is making a short list of the most important factors before starting the hunt for a home, and to make a note of those which may fall under the category ‘nice to have’–as opposed to ‘must have’. Second to that: you are recommended to take time to talk to people about different cities and their neighbourhoods, so that you can learn from their experiences and find out about the hidden things to consider. Do keep in mind that often a person’s opinion has a lot to do with where they come from and what their own expectations are versus simple likes and dislikes are.

There are particularities of Dutch living we could go on about–the steep staircases, small toilets, dilemmas of bike storage–but if there is one common thread which we could share with you it is related to space: storage, living and distances between locations. 

Distances may be relatively short (within a city)–but a 10-minute bike ride in spring or summer is very different to one in the autumn or winter. For the seasoned Dutch, it is simply 10 minutes; for someone not used to extreme weather (for cycling), being 10 minutes away by bike can have multiple meanings. Distances between cities may also seem short–but traffic on highways, if you are planning to commute by car, is a national issue (and topic) for everyone. It is worth keeping that in mind. Even by train, distances may also appear very close. Yet, the railway system has been struggling for a few years in dealing with extreme weather (leaves, high winds, snow and ice) and keeping the trains on time. Also worth keeping in mind is whether you have tight schedules related to other family obligations (after school care, pick-ups, etc.), which have strict time considerations.

Shortly after starting your search for a home, the issue of space will quickly become apparent. For people used to living rooms and family rooms or basements, the adjustment to close living in your new home–with many, if not all activities taking place in the shared space–may take some adjusting to. Rooms are very functional, and there is little ‘extra’ space. Washing machines are found where there is plumbing–requiring some adjusting to not only when laundry is done, but also how it is dried.

Living space is one thing, storage space another one. Creative use of space–downsizing belongings; renting additional storage space for seasonal items (i.e. winter coats, skis, sleds and the like)–is not an uncommon tactic for confronting the challenges. Being aware of this can save you many headaches and frustrations if your search criteria include ‘lots of storage space’. Naturally your budget, and therefore the size of the home you can rent or buy, will determine if any of the above are issues. Nonetheless, as general statements, these are some expectations to keep in mind. And, remember, at the end of the day, it is up to all of us to ‘make our home’ where we move to… so be creative in how you can do so, even if you have to give up on a desire or two.

Recovering Rental Deposits

It remains an issue: the return of deposits on rental properties. Solutions to this are being worked on, looked for. Until then, the following is recommended to all who make a deposit when renting a property. Upon check-in, document any and all areas of the house where you see ‘wear & tear’ or damage. Document in word (descriptive) and with photos, and make sure these are shared with the property owner, via your agent if necessary. Furthermore, as we all know, more is noticed shortly after check-in than on the day itself. In as short a time as possible, record these as well and make sure they are also shared. This way there will be little room for discussion when the time comes to claim your deposit back. 

Edited from an article written for Xpat Journal in 2013.

If you want to learn more about finding a place to live the Netherlands click here.