In the time it takes to cook a frozen pizza...

When it comes to hiring real estate agents, our stance is neither pro nor con.   We are simply indifferent.  Despite buying and selling our Goldsboro home on our own, we agreed house hunting on foreign soil would require professional assistance.   It wasn’t just the thought of having an agent drive us around from property to property that was appealing.  It was the idea that our non negotiable wish list would be met by an agent who, happily, did ALL the work.  Unfortunately, they were both fleeting thoughts.  Before stepping foot in the country our sponsors informed us the real estate industry differed vastly from The States.  They also mentioned the process would become one of the most frustrating aspects of our move.  

We started our house search the day after we arrived in Newcastle by driving around to various real estate offices.  Each business compiled a printed list of available rental properties.  We quickly learned that most, if not all, of these packets were located outside.  If that doesn’t say you’re on your own, we don’t know what does. 

After spending countless hours sifting through properties, we highlighted the ones that read well.  Becky called the real estate offices to set up an “inspection” time.  At this point, one of two things happened.  Either an appointment was already set where we were added to the inspection list or a date was not known and we were added to a list to be notified.  Here’s the first notable difference:   All rental property inspection correspondence is done via text messaging.  Good luck to those who don’t have cell phones.  The majority of the properties we wanted to view didn’t have an inspection date already established.  As a result, Jason randomly received texts regarding inspection details.  There wasn’t a standard of time between text notification and the showing.  In our experience, we were given as little as a day or as much as a weeks notice.  Thank goodness our schedules were all too flexible.  I can’t image how difficult it would have been working while trying to procure housing.  We’d probably still be living in a hotel! 

Here’s the part you’re going to think we’re making up…

Notable difference #2:  Once an inspection date is set, EVERYONE who is interested in the property meets for a 15 minute showing.  To make this clear, the house is only open for 15 minutes.  We couldn’t believe that in the time it takes to cook a frozen pizza we had to choose a house that would suit us for the next three years.   Bear in mind, we certainly weren’t driving well and couldn’t get anywhere without lugging around our life support; the phone book.  That’s right; we desperately needed the maps to get to our destinations.  However, we quickly realized that once on the correct street all we had to do was drive until we saw masses of people huddled along the sidewalk.  That’s pretty much how our first showing started (and ended).  It was weird seeing and waiting with about 30 other people who wanted the property as much as we thought we did.   That’s as far as it went that day because the real estate agent never showed up.   Apparently, not atypical…

As it is, fifteen minutes goes by in the blink of an eye.  Now, realize that majority the agents (that showed up) managed to arrive five minutes late.  So, instead of the generous 15 minute property inspection, we had a whopping ten.  Despite the late arrival, the agents we dealt with were heading to the door at the scheduled closing time.  Notable difference #3:  As best we could tell the only job of the agent was to unlock the front door.  Then he just stood off to the side; never touring us through or offering any details. 

Having no choice but to dash through a house deciding if it was “the one,” we took the divide and conquer approach.   Becky felt like she was entering Best Buy on opening morning of Black Friday.  There was no order; people were off in different directions and bumping into each other.  It was just short of chaos.  As with all things new and uncertain, we had questions.  We instinctively directed those inquiries to the real estate agent.  Notable difference #4:  The standard responses to 99% of our questions were, “This is my first day back to work after holiday; I don’t know” or “I don’t know I’m just filling in; you’ll have to ask the property manager.”  Needless to say, they weren’t the least bit helpful.  By the way, this process normally took place at 4:30pm and the real estate office closes at 5:00pm.  The issue with not getting answers at that moment was the application process. 

Specifically, we showed up to every property inspection with an application already filled out.  They were normally lengthy (about 4 pages) and time consuming to complete.  Since we were house shopping with our competition, we had to submit an application immediately as the agent usually received several at the showing.  The next morning the property manager would choose the best application from those received at the inspection.  Then the application is forwarded to the property owner for approval.  As a result, we didn’t have time to go back to the property manager with our concerns.  Therefore, the house we would get was “as is.” 

Sadly, the best application isn’t always the best applicant.  Notable difference #5: lowball offer is not an option.  It’s common knowledge here that if you really want a particular property it’s in your best interest to sweeten the pot by offering more money than the advertised weekly rental rate.  In fact, our property manager told us the only reason we got our house was because we were the highest bidder.    

This circus went on for a few weeks until we eventually managed to win one.  Unfortunately, the excitement quickly faded when we started walking around the property.  We kept asking each other why we submitted an application.  It was disgusting!  It smelled like a musty locker room, most of the trim and walls were painted peach, the carpet was nasty, and it was full of creatures.  Lucky for us, the house had JUST been professionally cleaned too.  Yikes!  Bottom line, it’s hard to really see a house in 15 minutes, especially when it’s full of someone else’s life… and thirty other applicants. 

Not to worry, there’s always a bit of good.  Silver lining #1: Our property manager is efficient and helpful.   Silver lining #2: Perhaps more beneficial, our landlord is accommodating and generous.  He granted our request for a fresh coat of paint and new carpet.  We had the place fumigated…twice.  The cockroaches, ants, lizards, slugs and spiders are currently a distant memory.  We barely recognize the place!  Our diamond in the rough is now brilliantly shining.  The house just needed a little work. 

It's now super clean like Maureen Odenwelder’s kitchen countertops and full of our goods.  It finally feels like we moved to Australia.  We’re in a 2 story, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath house.  It has a garage that parks two which is a big deal because parking is tough to come by.  How we ended up in a bigger house than the one we left is beyond us.  The irony is that we really prepared ourselves for apartment style living.  We shipped only the basics.  Everything else we left sitting stateside in long term storage.  Whoopsie!  Did I mention we have a rumpus room downstairs, too (Aussie for recreation room)?  Currently, the sole purpose for the otherwise empty room is to hold Jason’s new surfboard.  Silver lining #3: What furniture we did ship over fits PERFECTLY in our upstairs living space.  Speaking of upstairs, we have a great view of the town.  We can’t see the beach, but we can see a sliver of the ocean.  Even three blocks away, we can hear the Lifesavers (life guards) over the intercom.   Hearing the crashing waves at night isn’t bad either.  The best part is the fresh air.  We leave our windows open to welcome the sea breeze.  It’s too right!  Not even realizing it when we signed on the dotted line, we’re renting in a sought after suburb.  It’s in walking distance to the beach, baths, cafés, restaurants, boutiques and the market.

Newcastle is #9 on Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities to visit in 2011.  We have a guest suite….just sayin’

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/new-york-city/travel-tips-and-articles/76165

Inside:

Front to back: living room, kitchen, dining room

Balcony views :

Technically an ocean view

One of many hang gliders