Compare homes on the same basis

A monthly rent figure tells only part of the cost of a home. Create a comparison sheet for each apartment with rent, management or common-area charges, initial payments and the services included. Add your expected commuting cost and the practical cost of furnishing the home. Use the same categories for every property so a low headline rent does not hide a higher total.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism provides an apartment-search guide for foreign nationals. Use it to understand the terms you encounter, then ask the agent for the exact conditions of the property being offered. Terms that sound similar in conversation may have different meanings in the written agreement.

Request a detailed written quotation

Ask which charges are refundable, which are fees and which cover a future period of use. Check deposit handling, any key money, brokerage charges, guarantee-company arrangements, insurance and other listed services. Do not assume that every apartment has every charge or that a particular charge follows one universal rate.

Identify the payment dates and accepted payment method. Ask what happens to money already paid if screening fails or the agreement does not proceed. Before making a transfer, verify the payee and instructions through the agent’s established contact route. Keep the itemized quotation, messages and receipts together.

Look beyond move-in day

Read the provisions for renewal, early departure, notice, cleaning and restoration. Ask for explanations of unfamiliar terms and write down the answer. If a condition is important to you, seek confirmation in the written documents rather than relying only on a casual statement at a viewing.

Estimate the effect of ordinary changes: a longer commute, additional heating or cooling use, working from home or leaving earlier than expected. These are planning scenarios, not predictions of a fixed national cost. Compare what each home would mean for your own budget and daily routine. Before signing, make sure you understand the obligations you are accepting and know where to seek independent consumer or housing advice if the explanation and the paperwork do not agree.

Include any mandatory recurring service charge in your comparison sheet.