Hi all

This is my first post, and I am hoping to get some feedback from all of you folks here. Am considering relocating to Shanghai for work, and of course, accommodation is an important consideration in my mind.

Have gone through the archives in this forum (there are indeed quite a few posts on this issue on accommodation!), but was hoping for some fresh, up-to-date information.

Will likely be given housing allowance by prospective employer, but am not inclined to spending more than US$1,400 per month on this.

Work place is in Pudong, and I am thinking of setting up base there (given the proximity to work). With my budget, is it possible to get a pretty decent serviced apartment with all the usual necessities (such as utilities, internet, "fa piao", etc) bundled in this package? In that connection, what is a good serviced apartment you folks would strongly recommend and the pricing for that?

Alternatively, would it be more worthwhile to get a normal apartment (fully furnished) and then get an ayi to assist in the house-keeping? Again, I would appreciate some recommendations and the likely pricing.

In terms of priority, it is really the quality and service of the apartment that is paramount, followed by location and proximity to amenities.

Thanks in advance, and hope to catch some of you if I do make the move.


AM

Your budget will not run to a serviced apartment - start around US$2500 for a one bedroom.
But you should be able to find a nice furnished apartment and hire an ayi. Just steer clear of the "western" complexes where the rentals are inflated for foreigners.

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Check out www.joannarealestate.com.cn to get an idea of what's available and prices. We live at Shimao Lakeside in Jinqiao, which is a nice compound, great apartments, with a good mix of Chinese and Westerners living there. 2 bed apartments start from $1000/mth, most are furnished. If you need to be near Lujiazui, Yanlord Gardens are really nice and within your price range. Get a good agent and do your research. Tell them which apartments you want to look at and negotiate hard on the rent, as you can nearly always bring the initial asking price down. Also ask for club membership, Internet, satellite TV and car parking space (if needed) to be included in the rent. Most reasonable Landlords are happy to do this. Remember if you don't ask here, you don't get! As for utilities, we pay extra rent each month using all our rental allowance (as our apartment is under our housing budget - if we don't use our entire budget we loose the money left over) and our landlady pays all our utility bills. Hope that makes sense??? Good Luck!

Depending on the location of your office vs. Yanlord you could be a very reasonable walk. I am thinking with your housing allowance you probably don't have a driver?? While cabs are cheap and plentiful, it is a major pain in the assets to get a cab when raining so keep that in mind. Which tower is you office in?

I also recommend looking around a various websites to get a fell for pricing in the rental market, but encourage you NOT to find a real estate agent before you arrive, and certainly not one who will post (any moment now) to you on this website, especially since you have posted your housing allowance for all to see. As was mentioned earlier, things are easily negotiated into your lease here, internet, satelite tv, club access etc.etc, and finding a two bedroom furnished within your allowance on a lower floor at Yanlord should be pretty easy. Our landlord had ADSL installed for us, cost was 1000RMB per year (10 months for 1 years service prepaying).

Great recommendation on utilities, if you can't get landlord to pay, ask you employer if you find a place under your allowance, will employer contribute the unused portion of your allowance towards your utility bills. That appears to be a pretty common practice. When you arrive visit the dozens of local real estate office adjacent to Yanlord on Dong Chang Road. If you don't speak mandarin there is usually one person in each office that can get by. NEVER disclose you allowance ( or give a range a few hundred less than you have).

You will see rates on Ayi's all over the map here. We had ours 3 days a week originally, but increased to 5 days as she needed full time and didn't want to lose her, she wants 6 days! If you are looking for an Ayi 1-2 days per week, let me know, we are in Luijazui and would share!

Ken nailed it.
I try and avoid stereotypes and gross over simplifications.....but many agents will employ the following tactics:

The second your agent knows your allowance....you will magically be shown apartments which are slightly over that allowance.But, being a "good and skillful agent", yhey will proudly explain how they have managed to negotiate down to the exact amount of your allowance. Reality? Apartment is less, agent and landlord split the difference.

If you are new to town....get referrals for specific agents.

(Agents on this board, please no tirades! There are good and honest agents out there...I have one. But there are many who are not.)

Realize that it is virtually impossible to view apartments without an agent. Unlike the US, you cannot just read the Sunday papers under the classified section for "Apartments to Rent", call them up and make an appointment.

My advice?
Instead of asking about apartments in an area...start a new thread asking people to refer good agents in the area you are interested in. Good Agent=Good Apartment.