First time apartments in Taipei

[Gulgon]

Tyrone, I'm just waiting for you to provide me with some references. We've seen your site, and if it's not too good to be true, it looks like something we might be interested in.

I wont, as a policy, deal with any real estate agent who doesn't provide me with references of customers, satisfied or not. Since I can't see you or hear you or talk to you eye to eye, I would rather you give me the names of some people who have been served by you and talk with them about your service record ... not that I anticipate it to be questionable.

[Lord Lucan]

Generally speaking avoid agents unless your company is paying or you have a budget of around 5k US and above.

Try Tsuei Ma Ma instead. http://www.tmm.org.tw/English/index.html

If no-one in your party can read Chinese then get an agent but he will laugh heartily at a budget under NT$100k per month.

A half-decent 3-bed apartment in a convenient part of central Taipei is about NT$35k a month. Nothing special, but not a complete tip. There aren't really "bad" neighbourhoods as such and your main source of annoyance will be inconsiderate neighbours who are everywhere. In fact my experience has been the more upmarket the neighbourhood, the bigger a shower of bastards the neighbours are.

[Icon]

You are all so helpful, I am really enjoying this forum ... so civil!

Swede, I am so glad that you took the time to look up those listings, what a great resource you have provided ... unfortunately my Chinese is horrid at best. I could probably only tell you that the little boy is eating rice before stuttering and collapsing in a fit of tonal anguish.

Tyrone, we might need your services because of the language problem. Do you have some references or previous customers that I could get in contact with?

Icon, I'm glad you mentioned the fact that renters, in Taiwan, can be responsible for their own maint. and garbage. Even in the worst places I've rented in the states (think rural rat's nest cottage) I've still not been responsible for maintaining the place. Interesting difference. The garbage, too. I am no stanger to taking my garbage to our local dumpster, but it seems like that is a job that would become an arduous task while getting to know a new city.

I will keep all of this in mind, if you think of anything else that is interesting please let me know. We'll be coming at the beginning of the next school year.

Gulgon, you misunderstood me, I think. Not all tenants have to take care of their own repairs, but usually the landlord does.

The building maintenance is carried out by the administrative company in the newer ta low, teh same one that usually collects garbage and cleans teh building ... for a fee.

In older buildings, gong wu, teh neighbors are supposed to get organized and have acomittee for that... which is complicate dif everyone is a renter and your landlord lives in the States, as in my case.

In this traditional areas, then you yourself go chase the garbage truck and throw the stuff in. You just have to know the schedule. Usually, the truck comes two times a day. Just follow the crowd when you hear Fur Elise.

In a newer building, you would just worry about putting it in a chute anytime and someone else will take care of it.

[MilkTeaJack]

So I am looking for a place. The problems are my schedule, my Chinese speaking friends' availability, my own illiteracy, and tealit being populated by sharks (already wasted a day apt hunting by one lady...long story, but the places were real dives and she was sketchy )-so I have until CNY to find a new place but few resources.

I am checking with Tsuei Mama daily. Sometimes the listings aren't to my specs. I guess I am putting the word out that if you know of a rental site, I could try to muddle through the language and get a general sense of what is available...

[cranky laowai]

if you know of a rental site, I could try to muddle through the language and get a general sense of what is available...

http://www.591.com.tw/ and, of course, Taiwanted.

[MilkTeaJack]

Thanks for the 541 link! And the Taiwanted site isnt up yet as far as I can tell.

[Icon]

www.kijiji.com.tw

House rental: http://taipei.kijiji.com.tw/f-Housing-r ... tIdZ500811
House rental in Taipei city: http://taipei.kijiji.com.tw/f-Housing-r ... onZ1400001

Divided by area, type of home, etc..

[Mucha Man]

oops, supposed to be a pm

[MilkTeaJack]

Thanks again for the links. This really helps!

[UhdL]

Not sure if you're interested, but I have some beautiful, newly renovated studios on the same block as Exit 4 of the Gongguan MRT. Not sure if anyone has had this offer, but I can give tenants an English lease ONLY, as opposed to a Chinese lease or an English & Chinese lease where the Chinese overrides the English one.

http://www.tealit.com/ad_categories.php ... anguage=en

Feel free to PM me, too :P