First, I wanted to wait to start looking after the EXPO opened on May 1. I thought the supply would exceed the demand. I started with Craig's List and placed an ad in "wanting to swap" and "housing wanted." I looked through the "vacation rentals" and "sublet" and even "long term rentals." I sent at least 50 emails.
The 1st contact was a Chicago lady with a two bedroom in an old pre-war Chinese building. With every email, the terms would change and I could not find out what services were available. She wanted $1,200 deposit plus rent. Who knew if there actually was an apartment!
The 2nd contact was an LA woman with a one bedroom in a modern XPAT complex. Every email the terms would change. I had to work to get cable and internet included. Then I had to get a single bed moved into the living room. Of course, she wanted rent and deposit. The final straw was when we had to go to the building on arrival at 9:00p.m. and meet a Chinese woman who did not speak English to get the key.
The 3rd guy was in China with a cheap price of $800 plus $500 security deposit. He wanted me to wire him $500 by Western Union even before he started on the rental agreement. I think that was the closest to a SCAM that I encountered.
The 4th contact was a fellow from San Francisco with a two bedroom, no pictures, but full info. He had seen my ad on "housing wanted." Very quickly things worked out, even though the price ended up to be $1,200 plus $100 cleaning fee plus $75 to install the internet service. But, HEY, it is all in US dollars and I know where he lives if things go wrong. We have to settle for Chinese TV stations. Nancy can call her mother everyday using SKYPE. The gentlemen is sending us a set of keys and even his mother's Chinese cell-phone to use. His mother has just returned from using the apartment. Looks like things are working out. See picture of our apartment rental above.
The 1st contact was a Chicago lady with a two bedroom in an old pre-war Chinese building. With every email, the terms would change and I could not find out what services were available. She wanted $1,200 deposit plus rent. Who knew if there actually was an apartment!
The 2nd contact was an LA woman with a one bedroom in a modern XPAT complex. Every email the terms would change. I had to work to get cable and internet included. Then I had to get a single bed moved into the living room. Of course, she wanted rent and deposit. The final straw was when we had to go to the building on arrival at 9:00p.m. and meet a Chinese woman who did not speak English to get the key.
The 3rd guy was in China with a cheap price of $800 plus $500 security deposit. He wanted me to wire him $500 by Western Union even before he started on the rental agreement. I think that was the closest to a SCAM that I encountered.
The 4th contact was a fellow from San Francisco with a two bedroom, no pictures, but full info. He had seen my ad on "housing wanted." Very quickly things worked out, even though the price ended up to be $1,200 plus $100 cleaning fee plus $75 to install the internet service. But, HEY, it is all in US dollars and I know where he lives if things go wrong. We have to settle for Chinese TV stations. Nancy can call her mother everyday using SKYPE. The gentlemen is sending us a set of keys and even his mother's Chinese cell-phone to use. His mother has just returned from using the apartment. Looks like things are working out. See picture of our apartment rental above.
Hi, June 8th. the 86 yuan RMB is $US12, not $1.2 as you think that cheap. :0
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