Why I moved 3 times in my first year in Shanghai

Kurokun

Year 1, Apartment 1:
Found it online before arriving. Looked great in photos. Reality: building was being renovated, construction noise from 7 AM, elevator broken for 3 weeks, apartment smelled like mold.

Stayed 4 months. Broke the lease. Lost half my deposit.

Year 1, Apartment 2:
Rushed into it because I was desperate. Shared with a roommate who seemed fine online. Turned out he worked nights, came home at 3 AM, cooked loud meals at 4 AM. Also his girlfriend basically moved in without asking.

Stayed 3 months. Moved out quietly.

Year 1, Apartment 3:
Finally got it right. Visited 8 apartments in person. Took notes. Met the landlord. Checked the water pressure (important!). Verified the metro was actually 5 minutes walk, not "5 minutes" which means 15 in agent-speak.

Stayed 2 years.

What I learned:
• NEVER rent before seeing it in person. Photos lie.
• Visit at NIGHT to check noise levels
• Test the shower. Weak water pressure ruins your mornings.
• Check cell signal in every room. Some buildings are dead zones.
• Read the contract. Every word. Get a Chinese friend to read it too.
• If a roommate situation feels off during the "interview," trust your gut.

Moving sucks everywhere. Moving in a foreign country where you don't speak the language? Extra sucky. But third time was the charm.

How many apartments did you go through?