Apartment Viewing

Apartment viewing is an important process that should be scheduled as soon as possible. When scheduling the viewing, it is important to be polite. If you have the email address of the apartment owner, send them an email in which you introduce yourself, mention your responsibility, your job, and ideally, describe your previous experiences with renting.

During the apartment viewing, walk through the entire apartment and imagine how it would be to live there. As you go through the apartment, take note of the condition of the furniture and various parts. If you notice several damaged items, it is more likely that you will not enjoy living in the apartment, as things will frequently break.

Ask the owner for the total price, including utilities, and find out whether internet and other services are included.

If you are interested in the apartment, you can inform the owner or real estate agent immediately after the apartment viewing, or you can notify them later after the viewing. 

If you express interest in renting the apartment, ask the owner or real estate agent what information they will need from you.

 Please note that the owner or real estate agent has the right to choose, and there are often more than 20 candidates applying for one apartment. Being the first to view the apartment does not mean that you have secured the apartment.

A letter of recommendation from your previous rental or employer can help distinguish you from other applicants. Providing a work contract or bank statement can also help build trust. Most owners do not require these documents, but they can significantly increase your chances of being selected.

During the viewing and scheduling process, try to make a good impression, be courteous, and don't pressure the owner too much.

Most owners prefer tenants who will rent the apartment as-is and will not demand additional modifications (buying or removing furniture, repainting the apartment, etc.).

If you select an apartment through a real estate agency, you will usually be required to pay a commission at the beginning of the rental period, typically equivalent to one month's rent. However, the real estate agent may also require a higher amount, but you can sometimes negotiate a lower amount if there are fewer candidates for the apartment.

Once you have paid the commission to the real estate agent, you have secured the apartment!

In general, foreigners may have a slightly better chance of obtaining an apartment from a real estate agency than directly from the owner, but this is not a rule and may be the opposite in some cases.

The second article of our local guide for foreigners looking for housing in Czechia - here you can find the complete locald guide!