There are numerous ways to go about finding your perfect home abroad. While there is no one ‘right’ way, there are a few things you can do to ensure that the home you choose is obtained for the best price and is indeed the most near-perfect fit for you.

1. On the ground reconnaissance

Rather than booking a home sight-unseen from a realtor’s website, make plans to do some on the ground reconnaissance. You can do this weeks in advance of your final move, or even after your move while staying in temporary housing (like AirBnB). This will give you an opportunity to get a feel for the community you’re moving into, see the whole property, not just what you are shown online and may open up opportunities for great ‘local’ finds that are not posted on the internet.

2. Befriend a local

We were lucky enough to have many local friends who were able to make phone calls on our behalf. If you know someone who is fluent in the language, have them make phone calls inquiring about rental rates. If possible, have them accompany you on viewings too. Oftentimes, unfortunately, landlords will try to take advantage of foreigners and their unfamiliarity of ‘fair market value’. Your trustworthy local friend will guide you in the direction of appropriately priced units as well as assist in completing paperwork.

3. Do a drive-by

Before signing any paperwork, swing by your soon-to-be new home at night, in the wee hours of the morning and during the day. This will give you an opportunity to determine if you will feel comfortable there at any time of day. It will also alert you to any high-volume distractors, such as restaurants, bars, busses/trains, or party-hardy neighbors.

4. Be open to change

While it is common to find many similar amenities as you may be accustomed to in your home country, each country is different and has different ideas of ‘normal’. For example, despite the large size of the home and bathrooms there are in fact no tubs. It is very common to find homes in México without bathtubs. Although a bathtub would have made our move a little smoother, we all quickly adjusted!

5. Don’t sweat the small stuff

If your new home doesn’t have everything you want, you may be able to make some changes. Forming a good relationship with your landlord will do you well in the long-run. Need more air conditioning units, perhaps your landlord would be willing to add them for you or split the cost if you’re willing to leave them behind for the next tenant. Want to get a pet, ask your landlord, they may actually see it as a beneficial means of security. If you are unhappy with anything in your rental, speaking with your landlord first is the best option.

Do you have plans to live abroad? How will you be finding your perfect home abroad? What questions do you have about being a renter abroad? Share them in the comments and I will be sure to get back to you!