Apartment hunting and signing the contract - Seoul, Korea

This was our second apartment hunting in Korea.   This experience is over a year old - but I thought I'd share this finally.

Let's just say I hate don't particularly enjoy the process.  I am not one to enjoy shopping and choosing between unlimited options.  I even despise shopping for necessities like grocery.  Maybe I've been spoiled - because shopping takes too much time and effort when I can just rely on experts to pick the best apples and eggs through an app.  Gosh I love Korea, emart, and technology for this. 

Again going astray.

First of all, apartment hunting in Korea is like a game of get it or it will be gone tomorrow.  The truth is that half of it is true.  Things go fast here, especially if it's a good apartment.  But you gotta trust instincts. 

We set our eyes on this apartment complex because I don't know why - it just had everything - a Paris baguette downstairs, connected to the subway, and a 24 hours kimbap place.  

Sometimes we go all out on a plan, but one month before having to move out, we decided the hell with it and look at what looks good.  We picked a random realtor from the building and luckily she was diligent enough to show us 10+ apartments without appointment. 

We saw some places with great views of Han river.  

View from 28th floor

It's amazing what a difference a house makes.  Or even a subway station away makes.

We moved only one station away and our lives are SO much better and happier already!  There are so many things to list to why things are much different and better now.



First of all, I don't feel "stuffy"!   at all!  I can look out our living room and see the blue sky and clouds.  No building blocking the view.   I don't feel "cooped up" now.

two:  
Our neighborhood feels humbler, more people friendly from the "high nosed" community we were living in.

Just because we were in a "famous name brand" apartment complex, our old neighborhood felt so snooty!  You can just feel it in the air.  FYI:  I am an empath that feels energies.  Look it up online if you are one!

The difference in our new place is that, since our apt building houses small to very large homes (differ in prices), nobody acts like they're better than the other.   I haven't gotten that feeling or felt the energy.  There's a mix of classes (not that it matters), but you can feel the "variety" and somehow, it feels much warmer here.

I hate to say that the environment makes a difference, but it does.  Sure, you can live somewhere not so great and feel great too.  But it makes it so much easier to feel a "happier warmer energy" where you are living.




3)
Already, we are loving our new home.  We haven't heard any neighbors talking next door (yes, we used to hear our neighbors talk, not that we were trying).

This building we are in was constructed in 2004, which most Koreans know, the older apts have better, thicker walls.  hah!  Our previous apt was built in 2011..and you could hear pretty much everything (babies crying, fighting couples, calling their dog,...etc etc..).

BIG LESSON:  live only in "older" apts.  I'm not sure what the cut out year is.  I heard that the recent govnt allowed a huge leeway on regulations on wall thickness, building law, etc... etc... so the newer apts aren't always great.




4)
I haven't had the need to cook!  We have restaurants in our lower floors!  So much variety and cheaper too!  I couldn't describe how awesome it is.  And they're not just "blah food" places either.  So thankful.



5)
We have grocery store in our building.  And they have great fruit selection and decent prices.


6)
Our building is connected to the subway.  No walking, busing home.


7)
Our neighborhood has great restaurants just behind our building is the "restaurant street".



Because of this new home, we are appreciating Seoul more and more.

Amazing how my perception changes just like that.

I tell ya, the only constant thing is CHANGE.




namaste

The cost of moving in Korea

wow, it's expensive to move in Korea.

This is our first "real move" here.  With all the stuff we accumulated over the years and having a much bigger place for 4 years..  We hired a mover.

It costs 1,390,000 won.

::: we will have 4 men and 1 woman over around 8am and work until 4~5pm.  It also includes the "elevator truck"(?) used in apartments here and the end of the month is "expensive" and not to mention the Spring season (high season for moving).  And we are only moving one subway station away.   I was expecting somewhat around it, but it's not so bad that they are going to clean and put everything together (installing blinds, frames etc).  We won't have to do anything - except just to take our valuables separately with us. 


***The process of hiring a mover is to call a few ones, have them come over and get an estimate, set up appointment and pay a down payment (we paid 100,000won) for the date.  They will give you a contract and make sure to ask everything you want to know. 

The nice thing is that these movers guaranteed that they would wrap things well with its own covers (mattress/sofas..etc) and move everything with caution.  I just heard horror stories on the internet about the movers here breaking things and scratching up the floors even with a reputable name.

I will keep posted on how the move goes.


If you want to move well and without sweating, you have to pay a good amount.  But we are thankful for these services here so we are not complaining.  Renting your own truck is actually difficult in Korea - you supposedly cannot rent/drive the trucks without a separate license for it - it's no wonder you don't see "U-hauls" around here.




photo credit: Books in Hall — So Many! via photopin (license)