No. 7, 2014
CENTRE PLUS NEWS Real Estate Management Services (Real Estate Agencies)
Searching for place to live can
can place your ad, that you are looking for a specific apartsometimes take a long time and ment, but the latter method it is not a secret that foreigners is more attributed to the pasoften face difficulties in finding sive search for apartment. a residence in Lithuania. Property owners approach to foreign- The most convenient way to ers and dominating prices are purchase or rent a property is not very favorable. So it is im- the services of real estate agenportant to arm with patience and cies. The real estate managers knowledge, and start the search. can help you to find the right home in the light of your needs First, it is important to decide, and your search criteria. The what kind of the apartment you brokers can also mediate at a are interested in – what size, meeting with the property ownfloor and amenities. One way to ers and help to agree prices. . Of look for an apartment could be course, the services of real estate the apartment rental or selling websites, but usually the most of ads on these websites are placed by real estate agencies which seek to earn some profits. In addition, very often online advertisements are placed with beautiful pictures of ideal home at a very attractive price, but usually they are already busy, when you call and you are offered of other apartments, which, frankly, are not so attractive. Also, sometimes there are cases, when the apartments are rented informally without a written agency are not free and differlease agreement and not paying ent companies have different taxes to the state. Such cases are fees. Nowadays the assistance extremely dangerous, because for finding an apartment for landlords can ask to move from rent (only if you rent it) costs the apartment at any time. An- from 400 to 500 LT. But when other way for search is adver- you are buying your home not tisements in newspapers: you always the price is the most
important thing. It is important to evaluate other aspects. Estimate the area in which you are choosing your home: collect information about the area – is it a residential area, business or industrial district with all their features. Collect the information about the infrastructure - schools, kindergartens, shopping places, what are the transport options to get to other areas, is your new housing near your workplace, consider, whether it will fit you after a few years (maybe you are planning the family and then you
will need to look for more spacious housing). The RE broker can help you to decide exactly, The RE broker can help you to decide exactly, what you are looking for, to find and evaluate the environment, price and other factors affecting the home
Centre Plius News No.7, 2014
purchase-related questions. The analysis of the criteria forms a complete picture of the desired housing. The result is a quick search. If you are buying the home, consider the legal issues: Ask a seller or real estate broker to show you a certificate/ or a statement of the real estate and property rights to it issued by the State Enterprise Centre of Registers. You have to make sure that the buyable asset is unencumbered, not arrested or has not other liens. The seller should give you a certificate stating that there are no debts for electricity, gas, water and other services. Also you should be given a certificate from a homeowners association or community of gardeners, or, if there is no community or association, from a managing company and / or local authorities, that the real property is clear of debts. If the property is mortgaged, the seller must obtain the consent of the creditor for the transaction. If the seller has minor children, he must obtain the court authorization for the transfer of property to another person. If the property is owned by several co-owners, before giving a deposit be sure to ask for the waiver of pre-emptive rights to purchase with notarial attestation or ask for a joint meeting with co-owners, where they should to confirm in writing that have no claims on the transaction. Take your time and invoke the experts of this field, who respectively will represent your rights and interests. To get free consultations on home search and contract issues, please contact the Center Plus.
Address: St. Smetonos 5-302, • h t t p : / / w w w . e d m a k s . l t / Vilnius. Good luck in your search! • h t t p : / / d o m o . p l i u s . l t / • h t t p : / / w w w. n t s 2 4 . l t / Below you can find useful information for your home Other online home search syssearch. Real estate agencies: tems: • h t t p : / / w w w. e d o m u s . l t / • h t t p : / / w w w . r e max.lt/apie-remax • h t t p : / / r e o n . l t / • h t t p : / / w w w. r e b a l t i c . l t / • h t t p : / / w w w. o b e r- h a u s . l t / • h t t p : / / w w w. o p p a . l t /
• h t t p : / / w w w. a r u o d a s . l t / • h t t p : / / w w w. s k e l b i u . l t / • h t t p : / / w w w. a l i o . l t / Social services (Social Support Center).
Centre Plius News No.7, 2014
Real Estate Services for TCNs
The first need, that third coun-
try nationals (TCNs) face in Lithuania, is the search of place to live. Since it is difficult to find the own housing because they do not speak Lithuanian language, the most reliable and safest way will be to turn to real estate (RE ) agencies. Some TCNs and property consultants have agreed to share their experiences. Iranian citizen A. O. who came to Lithuania a year and a half ago, in the beginning was completely overwhelmed. He shared that he had not an idea, where he had been living, if not the help of RE agency. “After arriving I have stayed with my acquaintances. They told me about websites, where I found real estate agencies,” - said Iranian. The man reviewed many proposals before finally he found a reasonable option. Iranian noted that he was satisfied with the quality of real estate agency work: “A property consultant was in regular contact with landlords, made appointments, was translating and coordinating the conditions of contract. I did not need to take care of anything and it was a very big help, especially in the beginning, when I was the complete novice in a foreign country.” Asked, if he had only a positive experience, the Iranian remembered a case, when he had been unsuccessful. . “I remember the time, when I and a property consultant went to see an apartment. Once we were on the spot the landlord said that he would not rent the apartment for a foreigner. I was lost. I thought the real estate agent had informed that I was a foreigner.
But he did not. I was in shock.” Iranian offers the real estate consultants to warn owners in advance that the tenant is a foreigner. Then they won`t be wasting their time and won`t feel disregard. Egyptian citizen M. M. said that he was very pleased with RE agencies operating in Lithuania, because up to now he had got a very good and professional service: “Several times I have turned to the real estate agencies in order to rent an apartment for my parents visiting Lithuania. I really liked their professionalism: English language, readiness and the respect of a client`s view. I’ll tell you frankly, I did not experience that in Egypt. I do not know if I was lucky here, or all of your real estate agencies work this way, but my opinion is easily the best.” No matter, how it is tempting to believe that TCNs had only good experiences, and that only high level professionals work in
Lithuanian RE agencies, however, another Egyptian citizen told us about a different reality. Egyptian, who is living in Lithuania for more than five years and has cooperated with several real estate agencies, shared his experience: “Many of property consultants, to whom I have applied, were irresponsible and failed to complete their duties. Sometimes I was going to see an apartment, and nobody let me in because the landlord had not been informed about my visit. Or, I was going to sign a contract, because the property consultant had assured me that everything had been agreed, but then I was facing the landlord screaming that he had not been going to rent his apartment to a foreigner. Also any property consultant never provided utility bills and they only shared in words, how much costs could be. I was never sure, was it truth or not.” The man said that consultants` level of English was also not good enough and
Centre Plius News No.7, 2014
it often was a matter of luck: would consultant speak English, or pay only the basic phrases. “I think there is a lot of room for improvement: the quality of services, English language, a better cooperation between agencies and landlords. “You really feel not happy, when they refuse to rent an apartment simply because your appearance is different. It feels like being discriminated to me,” - with sadness completed the Egyptian. Real estate consultant, working in the agency “Columbus”, said that throughout all her work experience, she did not have a negative experience with foreigners. “Most foreigners are turning to us for renting an apartment. The most people who turned to me were citizens of Russia and some from Africa. Of course, I have noticed that the Lithuanian people, especially older ones, are not really inclined to rent their apartment to dark-skinned people. Still dominates the fear of another race people. There is a tension and unfounded suspicions.
Meanwhile, to rent an apartment for immigrants from Eastern European countries is much easier,” – her experience shared the girl. The consultant from other real estate agency REON shared her experience: “I have been working in this field for quite a long time, but I can say that I never had any problems or conflicts when working with foreigners and mediating to landlords. Our staff is good at English, the work goes smoothly and we quickly respond to customer needs.
” The girl said that for foreigners from the EU countries was much easier to find an apartment then to TCNs. The apartment owners still with distrust look at people of other races and nationalities, and there is felt a certain lack of confidence and this is a barrier for communication. The examples showed that there are both positive and negative experiences, and the efficiency of cooperation depends on both sides.
The newspaper is published, implementing the project “Consultation and information centre PLUS” according the European Fund for the Integration of third-country nationals, annual Programme 2012
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