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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Looking for a flat. What is better - Expat sites or Chinese sites?
Probably the classifieds in the expat sites will only show a small percentage of the flats available, but I think that it might be better to deal with people used to rent to foreigners.
My main concern is the price, do you know if the agencies/flat owners increase the rent when they advertise the houses through expat sites or are the prices similar to what you can find in a Chinese site?
You must combine your preferences, your bank account , choosen flat site surroundings, and many many. anyway, chinese websites are sure cheaper, and you have to not go that places for checking by yourself, and send someone instead. some good friend or wife. I always got double price when they saw me. when my wife alone, she get nice price, took photos for me, and we decide than. The looks of owners or agents, when they saw her husband is actualy white and they rent us for chinese price, is priceless
On the expat sites you are likely to see higher prices than Chinese sites. The expat sites price is more likely to be what you end up paying. I find that often you just figure out where you want to live, go to the area and find estate agents. And bringing a Chinese person who is motivated to get the price as low as possible is always a good idea. The price is ALWAYS negotiable, and e.g. out landlord has directly said she prefers foreigners as they generally leave the place in a better condition than locals. So the first time we had to renegotiate our contract she got slapped in the face with the fact that she might find it a bad idea to rely on finding another foreigner for her apartment = drop in rent.
It will depend on your personality and the way you adapt to a new place, even how much you are willing to accept living in China and dealing with the locals. Many people will tell you or you will read many things but there's nothing like being here.
When I moved in China I lived in a top flat compound, after 2 yrs I moved to something simpler, after 1 year I moved to a simpler one. Later on I moved to a middle one where I have not far expat comunity but I have all the comoditties of chinese neighborhood.