Recipe for Successful Apartment Shopping in Turkey: Don't Forget These 12 Items

Every year around this time, I feel like relocating from Istanbul or leaving Turkey. Does the summer weather ever make you feel at a crossroads in life or restless?

Yesterday was my birthday, so reassessing life hit my agenda, and I sit today writing about the move I made last year.

I learned a few lessons in that move about points to consider and grief to avoid. If you're smart, you should regard these same things if you want to buy. What's daunting? Istanbul's unreasonable price hikes for rental properties and sales.

Caution: Don't be quick about throwing your money on the table, and slow down when assessing a home. Don't let what's on the surface persuade you. Just like any financial decision, tread carefully.

So, following are some tips and resources to help pave a smoother path:

1. Do you have money in your pocket or will you use your credit card for the move? Plan for about $3,000 to rent by the time you pay first month's rent, deposits, movers and things you didn't expect. For buying, substantially more with down payments, and additional fees for attorneys, real estate agents, deeds, property surveys, etc.
2. The agent's first question: How much do you want to pay? If you give a price range, then expect to only be shown places only from the highest amount.
3. Try to find an apartment directly from the owner, then you don't have any agent fees if it's a rental.
4. Ensure you sign a contract. Standard Turkish rental contracts are sold at the stationery stores (kirtasiye), so ensure you use the legal one.
5. Apartments do not come equipped much of the time. What do I mean? You may see light fixtures, a hot water heater, air conditioner, towel bars or bathroom mirrors which aren't included, not to mention, a flood on your floor the first time you turn on the water taps. If you're buying a home, it may be completely stripped with only the walls left.
6. Most landlords want upwards of $1,000 USD or Euros for a deposit. Remember, if you go through a real estate agent (emlakci), you'll pay them about one month's rent when you accept an apartment.
7. Typically and unless you find a good landlord, places are left dirty and in disrepair. You bear the expense and time to clean and repair everything.
8. Kitchens may lack essentials, like cupboards, stove aspirator or even a place to put your stove top (ocak). You pay to solve the problem.
9. Electric outlets may be non-existent or in short supply where you need them, but worse, if one exists they may be jury-rigged.
10. Check on the heating system. Right now, many areas are changing to natural gas and single owner systems. With kombi and depending on your location in the building, it may be more expensive for you. Also, if the building will change to kombi, you may bear some of the expense.
11. Ask if there's an apartment caretaker (kapici) because that means an extra monthly bill for his salary and electricity in the hallway. Paid by you!
12. Don't forget, if you don't have natural gas plumbed into the pipes, you'll need a gas tube for cooking and possibly for your hot water heater.

So let's recap the initial expense tally, so you don't forget anything:

First month's rent plus building fee

Deposit on apartment: $1,000+

Realtor fee: one-half to one full month's rent or whatever fee you bargain.

Hook-Up fees or deposits for telephone, internet, Cable TV, electricity, water

Cleaning fees

Boxes to move

A mover

Repairs, lock changes, light installation, etc.

If I've missed anything in this series on finding an apartment to rent or buy, let me know, but check the links in this post which will give you more info about renting and buying in Turkey.

One last resource to get for more information about buying and renting in Turkey is A Handbook for Living in Turkey written by expat Pat Yale. You can pick up a copy at the Greenhouse Books in Kadikoy.

Comments

[Bea]

Thanks so much, Makia, I hope it helps unsuspecting expats and Turks alike.

[Makia]

Awesome post! I love stuff like this.

[joybringer]

Thanks so much for the birthday wishes. I truly appreciate it. Thanks, too, for reading my blog.

[super hero]

happy birthday.

[Hans A.H.C. de Wit]

good advice!
and,happy belated birthday!