I just recently came back to Shanghai after being away for a few years, so I already know which areas/apartment complexes I was interested in. My first strategy was to go to a complex I liked and find the real estate agency across the street to have them show me around. That works fine for me because I speak chinese. The problem with these places is that they can only focus on one small area where their company operates. I had to go to several agencies to look at all of my choices.

I called replus because they seemed to have a large amount of properties. It turns out that my company uses them for our expat transfers as well. They actually are the middle man between you and a local real estate agent, but this way they cover a much larger area. We were able to see a lot more units than the agents i went to. And f you need to go out in the burbs, they will rent a car and get a driver to show you around.

What was surprising is that they provide you with assistance for the duration of your lease period. They can help you set up you ADSL, get you registered with the local authorities, and even translate your washing machine(my agent actually did they for one of her clients). The deal here is that they get an extra bonus at the end of the leasing period if you are happy with your stay.

You don't get charged anymore. They just split the agent fee with the actuall real estate agent.

Anyway, if anyone is looking for a good honest agent, I fully recommend Sanny Shi at replus. PM me for her contact info.

chioubaccalovin wrote:What was surprising is that they provide you with assistance for the duration of your lease period. They can help you set up you ADSL, get you registered with the local authorities, and even translate your washing machine(my agent actually did they for one of her clients). The deal here is that they get an extra bonus at the end of the leasing period if you are happy with your stay.

You don't get charged anymore. They just split the agent fee with the actuall real estate agent.

I'm surprised you're surprised. Since I came to Shanghai almost four years ago both agents I've dealt with have been with me throughout the duration of the leases to sort out any problems and neither charged me a fee (that was paid by the landlords).

Same here landlord pays all fees and Agency help out when ever required been in three properties so far with a company called City Grand - http://www.citygrand.com/ Can not fault them they bend over backwards to help with anything minor or major.

chioubaccalovin wrote:I already know which areas/apartment complexes I was interested in. My first strategy was to go to a complex I liked and find the real estate agency across the street to have them show me around.

If you knew which complex you wanted to stay in you should have spoken to the security guard at the gate. They can let you know which apartments/houses are for rent and put you in touch with the landlord directly. Saves on the agents scam ..... acchhh cough . . . . fee.

crivens200 wrote:

chioubaccalovin wrote:I already know which areas/apartment complexes I was interested in. My first strategy was to go to a complex I liked and find the real estate agency across the street to have them show me around.

If you knew which complex you wanted to stay in you should have spoken to the security guard at the gate. They can let you know which apartments/houses are for rent and put you in touch with the landlord directly. Saves on the agents scam ..... acchhh cough . . . . fee.

Dealing with landlords directly is a lottery. Too many horror stories. Get an agent, but one you can trust. Preferably one recommended by someone you can trust. Good agents, in my admittedly limited experience, don't charge the tenant fees. They charge the landlord.

Above a certain threshold (~10,000rmb a month), they do not charge the tenant. This practice was adopted by Joanna real estate and all of the other agents had to follow suit. I was fine with paying the 35% as my agent haggled with the landlord pretty aggressively and saved me quite a bit.

chioubaccalovin wrote:Above a certain threshold (~10,000rmb a month), they do not charge the tenant. This practice was adopted by Joanna real estate and all of the other agents had to follow suit. I was fine with paying the 35% as my agent haggled with the landlord pretty aggressively and saved me quite a bit.

I, and all my colleagues, are below that threshold...no agent's fee. Just my experience though. It may be different for everyone else...

Humac, would you mind posting your agent's details? (If they are cool with that.)

Guru Pitka wrote:Humac, would you mind posting your agent's details? (If they are cool with that.)

I don't like advertising and I'm sure there are plenty of other good agents out there. But if you get in touch with Monalisalee on this site that would be a good place to start. His experience far outweighs mine.

Right. Thanks mate, I will.

Humac, You are TOO kind.

Just to clear something up: The very normal thing in lower end properties, (under about 10,000), is for
the commission to be shared 35%/35% tenant and landlord. If you managed to get landlord to pay all, very lucky indeed.
On higher end props. the landlord will meet the commission, which may be 100% of a months rent, as the tenant is already paying a premium for the property.

Anyone sends me an email addy, will gladly send an information pack, as well as contacts and references for a top agent.

John.

Humac wrote:

crivens200 wrote:

chioubaccalovin wrote:I already know which areas/apartment complexes I was interested in. My first strategy was to go to a complex I liked and find the real estate agency across the street to have them show me around.

If you knew which complex you wanted to stay in you should have spoken to the security guard at the gate. They can let you know which apartments/houses are for rent and put you in touch with the landlord directly. Saves on the agents scam ..... acchhh cough . . . . fee.

Dealing with landlords directly is a lottery. Too many horror stories. Get an agent, but one you can trust. Preferably one recommended by someone you can trust. Good agents, in my admittedly limited experience, don't charge the tenant fees. They charge the landlord.

The whole commission thingo is actually a government regulation of 35% tenant and 35% landlord BUT as stated for properties in a medium to higher bracket the landlord is asked to pay from 70% to 100% of one month's rent. Given that the trust factor in this industry is pretty low landlords often don't trust agents who say "the tenant is not paying me 35%" and it can be pretty difficult to talk them through this.

It is not necessarily a reflection of a poor agent given that the landlords are just following the government regulations. These regulations are of course purely guidelines but they are common practice.

Our agency handles cases above 10k so we never charge commissions from tenants.

Adrienne Farrelly
Shanghai Properties "Expat agents speak your language"
http://www.shanghaiprops.com