by Annie Riedi

Created on: January 19, 2009

Apartment Hunting in Seoul, South Korea

So, you've decided to find your own apartment in Seoul. Well, this can be good and bad in many ways. It's hard to tell, with one or two visits how the apartment is when being lived in. Here are some tips to get the most out of your visit.

1) Check water pressure and temperature. There's nothing worse than moving into a place that either has no water pressure, or enough to clean a car at a car wash. Ask whether you can adjust the water temperature and how. Ask if you can adjust water pressure.

2) Imagine the layout of your room. Decide where you want to put your bed. Now, check whether there are any outlets nearby so you can plug in your lamp or alarm clock.

3) Check the windows. Are they wooden? Wooden windows tend to be drafty. Check that the windows close all the way. Many Korean apartments have windows that don't close properly or have airconditioners that are haphazardly installed. Ask if any potential drafty areas can be fixed before you move in. Also, check that the windows can be locked. Many times, internet installation people are lazy and install wires so that they just fit through the windows, making you unable to close them properly. If they are there, ask if they can be taken out and rewired. Are there keys available for the locks that might be there? Do they work?

4) Some apartments have appliances and some do not. What do you need? What is available? Sometimes, landlords will supply appliances if you ask for them. One landlord gave me a dryer to use while I lived there. Figure out if a lower rent is worth the investment you'll need to make to buy appliances. Check with resale shops to see how much used appliances are, and how much they will pay to buy back the items in a year.

5) Check for mold and bugs. Mold can be various colors, so inspect carefully. If the wall paper is new, it might be because of a mold problem. Check for discolorations in the new wallpaper, especially near the ceiling and in the corners. Check for bugs and bug droppings. Is this a problem you can live with? It takes a lot of work to maintain an apartment clean enough to detract bugs, can you do it?

6) Check for smells. Check the bathroom for odors, if doors to utility closets are closed, open them and smell the drains. Drain smells come and go, but you might be able to detect odors and want to avoid apartments that have them.

7) Where is your washing machine? Is this a convenient place for it? Will you have to duck down or touch a dirty wall?

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