My apartment viewing checklist has 23 items. I've been burned before.
My friend from the UK has rented 4 apartments in China. The first three had hidden problems she didn't notice during the viewing.The fourth? She brought a checklist. 23 items.
The checklist:
Infrastructure:
1. Water pressure — turn on the shower. Is it strong? Hot water arrives in under 30 seconds?
2. Toilet — flush it. Does it work properly?
3. AC — turn it on. Does it cool? Is it loud?
4. Heating — if winter, does the heater work?
5. Internet — is fiber installed? What's the speed?
6. Power outlets — are there enough? Are they grounded?
Noise:
7. Street noise — close the windows. Can you still hear traffic?
8. Construction — look out the window. Any cranes or unfinished buildings nearby?
9. Neighbors — knock on a wall. Is it hollow (bad soundproofing)?
10. Subway/vibration — is the building near a metro line? Feel the floor.
Lighting:
11. Natural light — visit during the day. Is it bright enough?
12. Bedroom darkness — can you make it pitch black for sleeping?
Security:
13. Building access — is there a gate guard? Key fob?
14. Apartment locks — how many? Are they secure?
15. Window locks — especially on lower floors.
Appliances:
16. Fridge — open it. Is it clean? Does it smell?
17. Washing machine — run a quick cycle. Any strange noises?
18. Stove — all burners work?
19. Water heater — capacity? (50L is enough for one person. 80L for two.)
Practical:
20. Storage space — closets, cabinets, under-bed space.
21. Drying clothes — balcony? Indoor drying rack?
22. Trash disposal — where is the bin? Building trash room?
23. Mobile signal — check your phone. Full bars?
Questions to ask the landlord/agent:
• What's included in the rent? (Management fee, heating, internet?)
• Who pays for repairs?
• Can I register my address here? (Essential for residence permit)
• What's the penalty for breaking the lease early?
• Can I have guests stay overnight?
• Is the apartment zoned residential or commercial? (Commercial = no address registration)
Red flags:
• Landlord seems evasive about any question
• They pressure you to sign immediately
• The price is 30%+ below market
• They can't show you the property license
• The contract is only in Chinese and they refuse bilingual version
My UK friend: "My first apartment had no hot water for 2 weeks. My second had construction noise at 6 AM. My third had mold behind the wardrobe. My fourth — the one where I used the checklist — is perfect. The checklist took 30 minutes. It saved me months of misery."
Anyone else have an apartment viewing horror story? What did you miss?
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