[quote="PsyGuy"]They are having a "teacher", not an HR rep. play housing/apartment realtor?[/quote]
I would guess the teacher is acting like a 'buddy'. At one of my schools teachers used to volunteer to assist new staff in finding apartments. It involved advising on locations in which to live and sometimes we'd join them for a day/afternoon of viewings (with the agent) and point out any possible issues. It was basically for support and guidance not to find the apartment. HR were also meant to help, but they often weren't really interested, they just wanted the new staff in apartments as quickly as possible.
shipping and housing and stress. . .Oh My!
You are correct, ichiro; it is a "buddy" situation. I actually prefer that, to be honest, because it will be another teacher who has been through the international relocation process themselves, not an HR person who most likely has not. HR staff are too busy with other things, I would imagine. It will be nice to have some contact with a teaching colleague before moving. In a situation where EVERYTHING will be new, it will be helpful to have some conversations ahead of time and a friendly face once we arrive.
I certainly hope that the shipping company bills the school directly :) With the high cost of getting into an apartment in the city to which we are moving (@6 months rent, not counting the first month of rent), I don't think taking an additional (albeit temporary) $5000 hit is feasible, especially if we are unable to sell our house (which is looking to be the case. . .) The "settling in" allowance of about $750 isn't going to go very far. Coffee pot, groceries, everyday essentials, and tiding us over until the first paycheck. That will be about all it will cover, I suspect.
I got my list of things I have to get together for my visa today. It doesn't look like the process is going to be too terrible, which reduces my stress.
YIKES!!! A year from now, none of this will matter, but it seems a bit daunting at the moment. I clearly need to drink more often!
I certainly hope that the shipping company bills the school directly :) With the high cost of getting into an apartment in the city to which we are moving (@6 months rent, not counting the first month of rent), I don't think taking an additional (albeit temporary) $5000 hit is feasible, especially if we are unable to sell our house (which is looking to be the case. . .) The "settling in" allowance of about $750 isn't going to go very far. Coffee pot, groceries, everyday essentials, and tiding us over until the first paycheck. That will be about all it will cover, I suspect.
I got my list of things I have to get together for my visa today. It doesn't look like the process is going to be too terrible, which reduces my stress.
YIKES!!! A year from now, none of this will matter, but it seems a bit daunting at the moment. I clearly need to drink more often!
Suppose
I did the new teacher welcome tour, and introduction when i was in China one year. It really depends on how well informed and connected/tied in the teacher is. I just cant and in my experience see a teacher being as familiar and up to date on the housing market as a professional agent would be.
You should know this….
[quote="PsyGuy"]I did the new teacher welcome tour, and introduction when i was in China one year. It really depends on how well informed and connected/tied in the teacher is. I just cant and in my experience see a teacher being as familiar and up to date on the housing market as a professional agent would be.[/quote]
In China, real estate agents represent landlords (ie. the landlord pays the agent's fees). In some cases, the renters pay a fee but it is always a fraction of want the landlord pays. An HR rep. or teacher buddy helps the new teacher negotiate with the agent/landlord. It is in the agent's best interest to have you pay higher rent.
In China, real estate agents represent landlords (ie. the landlord pays the agent's fees). In some cases, the renters pay a fee but it is always a fraction of want the landlord pays. An HR rep. or teacher buddy helps the new teacher negotiate with the agent/landlord. It is in the agent's best interest to have you pay higher rent.
Agree
I agree, and your right Realtor Agents work for the landlord. That is after all how they get paid, though there are agents that work for renters/buyers, they expect to be paid by their clients. No body is going to do it for free, and Id rather the landlord pay them myself. That doesnt mean the agent doesnt have your intrests in mind as well. Yes they want the best commission they can get, but they also dont want you going to someone else, if the agent doesnt introduce you to properties that dont fit your needs or requirements.
What i meant by "professional agent" is someone working for a relocation service or in HR,who professionally on a regular basis made their living in whole or in part in helping people find places to live. In my experience its either been a relocation agent or someone in HR
While a fellow teacher may know about their own place to live, and on places they have lived, I would think their information would be limited in other properties that they might have heard about from fellow teachers. In all not a very broad or deep source of information, especially given a city like Beijing or other large cosmopolitan city that caters to expats and may have a VAST number of buildings and apartments available. How could a teacher be expected to keep up with whats available and what isnt on a daily basis.
When i was the new teacher leader, I had one teacher and his wife who had done a lot of research online and had something over 20 apartments they wanted to look at (they had researched online). I simply didnt have the time to dedicate to take them everywhere. I ended up pushing them into an apartment that i wouldnt live in, but was close to campus, and had 3 bedrooms (they had 2 kids). They werent unhappy, but they werent happy either. I was just really not in a position to know very much about the places they were interested in.
Its one reason Im glad many schools in asia provide and or require housing their first year.
What i meant by "professional agent" is someone working for a relocation service or in HR,who professionally on a regular basis made their living in whole or in part in helping people find places to live. In my experience its either been a relocation agent or someone in HR
While a fellow teacher may know about their own place to live, and on places they have lived, I would think their information would be limited in other properties that they might have heard about from fellow teachers. In all not a very broad or deep source of information, especially given a city like Beijing or other large cosmopolitan city that caters to expats and may have a VAST number of buildings and apartments available. How could a teacher be expected to keep up with whats available and what isnt on a daily basis.
When i was the new teacher leader, I had one teacher and his wife who had done a lot of research online and had something over 20 apartments they wanted to look at (they had researched online). I simply didnt have the time to dedicate to take them everywhere. I ended up pushing them into an apartment that i wouldnt live in, but was close to campus, and had 3 bedrooms (they had 2 kids). They werent unhappy, but they werent happy either. I was just really not in a position to know very much about the places they were interested in.
Its one reason Im glad many schools in asia provide and or require housing their first year.
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stellalocal
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Re: You should know this….
[quote="augustus"][quote="PsyGuy"] An HR rep. or teacher buddy helps the new teacher negotiate with the agent/landlord. It is in the agent's best interest to have you pay higher rent.[/quote]
Yes, I think this is exactly the reason for the buddy system. Teacher's are more likely to be supportive of a colleague and be honest with them about what they should haggle over, eg. rent, getting new furniture etc. The agent isn't going to recommend anything to someone new to a country who might just think that's the standard/cost of flats s/he should expect. The agent is going to get what he can and that can include taking advantage of new people in the country who are keen to find a home.
The school I was at generally had teachers that would assist in the areas they were already living and therefore knew about.
Yes, I think this is exactly the reason for the buddy system. Teacher's are more likely to be supportive of a colleague and be honest with them about what they should haggle over, eg. rent, getting new furniture etc. The agent isn't going to recommend anything to someone new to a country who might just think that's the standard/cost of flats s/he should expect. The agent is going to get what he can and that can include taking advantage of new people in the country who are keen to find a home.
The school I was at generally had teachers that would assist in the areas they were already living and therefore knew about.
Not all Chinese property agents are as self serving as described in some of the above posts. We have a PA, and while she is definitely paid by the landlord, she works hard for us. On our second day in our apt we had internet, satellite TV both hooked up and the AC fixed within a matter of 2 hours. I've lived in school owned housing which was never serviced as fast.
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stellalocal
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The point being made was in response to psyguy's shock that a teacher would be assisting the OP with their move (despite having done it himself, so I don't know why he was surprised). It's generally done to offer support with the move not to replace the agent. Of course there are good agents out there, but there are also not so good, and they are after the best possible deal. As a new person in a new country you are open to being ripped off so it makes sense to have someone offering some guidance. It's not always going to be a help though, you could end up with psyguy who just encourages you to go with the first place so he can get home.
Perhaps not, Psyguy, but they will be aware of apartments that are available because teachers are leaving the school. Believe me, if we are able to take over a departing teacher's lease, we will do it to avoid realtor fees which can be upwards of 3 months rent. Apparently, this is a common occurrence.
I don't really care who helps me. I can do an internet search and go it alone, but it is nice that the school is willing to provide assistance at any level. I don't have to take/use the advice that is provided and will do my own research as well in terms of areas, transportation, proximity to shopping, etc. In other words, no matter who is helping, the choice of where to live is mine and I'm not going to just take advice without my own due diligence :)
I've got plenty of time, and if we have to get a vacation rental (which, incidentally, according to my research, will not cost us any more than an apartment where we are going) for a month, we will. No worries!
I don't really care who helps me. I can do an internet search and go it alone, but it is nice that the school is willing to provide assistance at any level. I don't have to take/use the advice that is provided and will do my own research as well in terms of areas, transportation, proximity to shopping, etc. In other words, no matter who is helping, the choice of where to live is mine and I'm not going to just take advice without my own due diligence :)
I've got plenty of time, and if we have to get a vacation rental (which, incidentally, according to my research, will not cost us any more than an apartment where we are going) for a month, we will. No worries!
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stellalocal
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Re: Because
[quote="PsyGuy"]Because having done it before in the past, Im pretty confident that a teacher is not the best qualified individual to act as someones property agent or relocation specialist.[/quote]
Who said anything about them taking the role of the agent? They are there to assist the new member of staff, ask the questions they don't know to ask, point out there's a mosque at the back of the building, a 30 min walk to the bus/metro etc.
doubtful, I agree, the fact that the school is offering to support you with this is good, it would be easy for them just to let you go it alone and many do.
Who said anything about them taking the role of the agent? They are there to assist the new member of staff, ask the questions they don't know to ask, point out there's a mosque at the back of the building, a 30 min walk to the bus/metro etc.
doubtful, I agree, the fact that the school is offering to support you with this is good, it would be easy for them just to let you go it alone and many do.
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stellalocal
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:21 am
Re: Other End
[quote="PsyGuy"]On the other end of the helpfulness scale, towards the actually helpful side, they could provide you with an actual professional to find an apartment.[/quote]
They may well do that. Since when does having a teacher buddy mean no agent? How would you find the apartments without an agent, wander the streets aimlessly knocking on doors and asking? In my experience the school lines up agents and the teacher buddy tags along to give advice as they have some idea of what you'll need/want.
It's helpful if the school put you in touch with teachers before you move out there, they'll be able to recommend things to ship/leave behind. Schools often email out 'guides' to their school/area too with handy hints in.
They may well do that. Since when does having a teacher buddy mean no agent? How would you find the apartments without an agent, wander the streets aimlessly knocking on doors and asking? In my experience the school lines up agents and the teacher buddy tags along to give advice as they have some idea of what you'll need/want.
It's helpful if the school put you in touch with teachers before you move out there, they'll be able to recommend things to ship/leave behind. Schools often email out 'guides' to their school/area too with handy hints in.