Finding accommodation is usually one of the most common problems when someone is relocating abroad. You have found a job abroad but now where are you going to live?
How do I find a flat if I don’t speak fluently the language?
How do I know this is the right neighborhood to live in?
How do I know if this flat has the right contract for me?
These are some questions that you can ask yourself before relocating abroad. Here are some recommendations for finding the right place to live for you.
*It is advised that when you initially relocate to find a temporary home with a flexible policy, this way if something doesn’t go as planned you can easily move. Once you are more settled, we advise finding a more permanent job.
As always, be aware of potential scams and do not give money in advance*
.
Accommodation arranged by the sending organization
If your sending organization arranges the accommodation, then you don’t have to worry about finding it. In this case, it is important to know if you would be happy with the characteristics of the place you will be living in.
Here are some questions to ask:
- Is it shared or on your own?
- Do they help you to find it?
- If shared, with how many people
- Utilities: WiFi, washing machine, microwave, etc
Some other extra recommendations:
- Ask them for photos of the room or the flat
- Request the address so you can look it up on Google maps
- Research about the neighborhood (closest facilities, medical centers, distance from public transport, etc)
- Ask in Facebook groups about the area
–
Self-arranged accommodation
If you don’t receive help with your accommodation search and you need to find it by yourself here are some recommendations.
You can consider the option of finding temporary accommodation until you are in the destination country. Here are some temporal great options:
- Spotahome
- Airbnb
Select long stay options for a cheaper price. - Student residences
- Youth hostels in the area
Many of these hostels would also offer free accommodation in exchange for some hours of help per week doing the cleaning, reception, and more - Type on Google “temporal residence” + city and research if there are any great options
Free accommodation
If your project is part-time, full-time, or remote you can still combine other hours of work from your free time and exchange them for free stays. If you choose this option you will need to make sure that you can combine both projects, there is always a possibility to agree on the working hours with the host.
Here are some of the valuable options to consider if you would like to keep some savings:
- Workaway
There is an annual fee to access the platform. If you are looking to find a place to volunteer some hours in exchange for accommodation and sometimes food, this could be worth paying. - Helpstay
A free platform where you can exchange your skills for free stays. - Trustedhousesitters.com
This option is the more recommended one as you do not need to spend much of your hours in exchange for a home.
Here you will be taking care of the owner’s pets and you can stay for free at their home. I have been a host and the experience has been really positive. There is an annual fee (in my opinion worth paying) to access the platform. You can get 25% off using the code: RAF276545. Join here.
Recent Comments