So you are moving overseas….

So you are getting ready to move overseas.  This may have planned or totally unexpected but no matter how it happened, it can be incredibly overwhelming.

Finding a place to live is often the first thing on people’s minds.  But where do you even begin, especially if you don’t know the area you are moving to.  You might have been there as a tourist once, but that was ages ago and you weren’t looking at things through the eyes of a local.

When looking to rent a house overseas, you should take a few things into consideration:

What are your Must Haves vs Like to Haves

For some people this might mean being super close to school or to work.  For others it might mean being in an area with a vibrant night life or perhaps a more suburban feel to it.

But in the world of Dutch home rentals, you need to be prepared to compromise. Depending on where you are moving from, you might find Dutch homes to be much smaller in size yet come at a high cost.  So what is more important to you - is it the location or the size of your home?  

Our suggestions?

Make a list of what you want in a home

• Divide that list in to MUST have and LIKE to have

• What is the minimum you are willing to accept?  (for example, if you are a family of 5, are you willing for 2 kids to share a room if it means being in the right area?)

• Prioritize your list - rank the things from most important to least important

What is your budget?

In some countries, what you can afford is based on your credit rating or even just your own personal budget that you have decided upon.  However, in the Netherlands, there is a guideline that you must adhere to.  

The general rule is that you take your gross monthly salary and divide that by 3.  And that is how much you can afford.  That doesn’t mean you have to spend that amount, but that will be the maximum cap for what will be allowed by the majority of landlords.

City versus Suburbs
Some people love the nightlife and the vibrancy of the city while others crave a nice walk in nature and quiet neighbours.  Which do you prefer?

Where will your kids go to school?

If you have kids, will you put them into a local Dutch School or an International School?  You will want to apply to those schools in advance to make sure there is a spot available for your child as there is often a waitlist.  This will help to narrow down your search geographic area.

Do you have pets?

The Dutch love pets.  They don’t love them so much in their rental properties.  If you are bringing over pets, be prepared to limit the amount of houses that will be available to you and your furry family.  We have pets ourselves so we understand the need and want to have them with you, but we always want you to be aware of the market in the Netherlands.

Will you have transportation?

How will you get to and from work or school?  Do you need to be close to public transportation or do you need a parking spot for a car?  These are all things to take into consideration.  These days, many of us are working from home so we often prefer more space in our homes than a short commute time for those rare office days.  But depending on your work situation, this could vary.  

These are just a few things to think about to get you ready for your big move.  If you want more information on searching for a home in the Netherlands, please contact us and we would be happy to have a free introduction call to get you familiar with the process.