Welcome to the Jungle: An expat’s perspective on finding a suitable apartment in Warsaw.

Over the last 11 years I have had to relocate to Warsaw twice due to my wife’s employment opportunities. As and expat, moving to Warsaw and trying to find a flat is similar to trying to find a location within a jungle; in a real jungle you need a guide, in the real estate jungle of a foreign city and country you need another sort of guide, you need a real estate agent. In the time we spent in Warsaw, we had the experience of dealing with dozens of apartment owners directly and also real estate agents; here are the basics you will need to know to find the right agent to help you find your new home.

What is important to you when finding a new home, you know the place where you will live, eat and sleep for at least the next year and perhaps many more?

Make a list of everything you will want in your home and everything you want around it. Do you want a short commute to work, or proximity to schools, parks, restaurants?

How do you expect to travel around, by car or public transport?

What do you want in the building?

Knowing this is important because now when you interview Real Estate Agents you can see if they are taking care of what you want and need, or are they just looking to pressure you into a quick sale? As Real Estate Agents our duty is to put your needs first, and unfortunately even the nicest agent may not be actually putting your needs above their own. So knowing what you want and need will help.  Having said this, a transparent and honest agent will point out where some of your wants and needs might not be fully practical given the market conditions, but let them explain it. Once you have found an agent who understands your needs and who you feel comfortable working with, let him or her provide you with offers that meet your needs.

After various experiences in finding my apartment – I became a real estate agent –I prefer when a Real Estate Advisor is referred to me. I help expats because I’m the one of them.

Jason Boughner

/Real Estate Advisor – LOCO Real Estate/