If you are already living in Dublin, if you just arrived or if you searched a little about renting here you already know what a nightmare it is. If you were in none of this case, well it was about time you know: renting an apartment in Dublin is almost as hard as watching Donald Trump won the US election. Yes it is painful, ridiculous and horribly annoying. But we get through it (yes, we can).
How? Well I don't have a secret recipe unfortunately but I have some tips that really helped us in our quest (YES, a quest).
1. Register and sign up for alerts on Daft.ie Indispensable. Here how it works, a beloved landlord or agency is going to put an ad about his/her flat and the thousands of desperate people looking for a place to live are going to ask for a visit in the 0,01 seconds that follows. Ok, it's a little exagerate...but it is true that if you are asking for a visit more than 10minutes after it went live, you already lost the run. So having Daft.ie alerts on your phone is the best way to be first on the apartment you like and to reinforce your chances to get it.
2. Be flexible Unfortunately, renting in Dublin is far from being a fair world. If you are not available at the time the visit is settled for the apartment of your dreams, well wipe your tears and be strong because you are not going to get it.
3. Be smart
Renting in Dublin is far too expensive, the rents are crazy high and you're first reflex is going to be hunting for the cheapest. But maybe it's not the smartest move. You have to figure out if it wouldn't be worthier for you to pay a little more for an extra room for example that you could rent to someone from time to time or to have a place more modern that will make you save on your extra costs like the heating and the electricity. Think before hand because once you'll get a chance to get your appartment you don't want to be polluted by these thoughts as you won't have a second chance to get it if you don't take it right away. After a visit you can get the answer right away and at that time you have to be able to say yes or no, before someone else takes it.
4. Be nice
People often forget that essential point. You are judged on everything when 20 people want the same thing. So be nice, it can make a difference. Talk, make yourself noticed by the agent or the landlord, show them how a good renter you would be, how respectuous of their place you are going to be, how serious and reliable you will be with your rent. Reassure them, sell yourself, I know you are the one paying but unfortunately in that scenario, you are not the only one ready to pay...aw the laws of demande and offer.
5. Be strong
It's not going to be easy, you are going to be disappointed but in the end you'll have one. Think about your appartment hunting in advance, give you several weeks to be sure you'll find the one for you. Don't jump on the first appartment available if you don't like it very much or if you don't feel it well. It's going to be the place where you spend your nights, you deserve it to fit your expectations mostly because of the high rent you're going to invest in it. You will see everything and mostly anything and it's going to be bad most of the time, but there are some pearls on the market, so be strong and patient. Your turn will come.
Best of luck to all of you who are looking for a place to live!
Thank you for reading :)
O.
