Apartment Search

Real Estate is a little different in Europe.  An agent can only show what is listed by their office and office typically only list in their area.  I landlord or home owner can list with more than one office/agent though.  Part of Marco's relocation package is 3 days with  a relocation specialist who arranges viewings with multiple offices.  Yesterday I spent the day with my relocation specialist and let me just say.... it was quite an adventure!

Clare picked me up at Marco's office and I could tell right off this was going to be interesting.  We got lost going to the first apartment...  come to think of it, I think there was only 1 that we got to on the first try!  After the first 2 apartments, Clare informed me that we could do much better!  I had to stay alert because we had multiple conversations going on at once!

Clare has 2 kids, a girl and a boy... she use to have a Jack Russel but when it died, her husband wanted a 'proper dog' so they got a working Spaniel.  The dog needs a lot of walking.... Clare's daughter was hit by a truck when she was 11 but was just bruised badly..... she has a cheeky sister-in-law.... her husbands great, great, great grandfather was an illustrator for Charles Dickens.... she had children later in life.... her doctor said she needs to drink my water....  she explained the coins to me - there is a Pound coin but if you take 2 50p coins, that equals 1 Pound, and 2 20p plus 1 10p makes 50p, and 100 1p coins make 1 Pound, etc, etc.... like I don't know simple math??  I'm she shared more info with me but you get the idea!

The day ended with Clare driving me past the last apartment (at 3:00) and telling me that I could meet the listing agent there at 4:00.  Clare dropped my at a Starbucks a few blocks away so she could head home before traffic got out of control!!  I met the agent at 4:00 to see the apartment and then she had to give me directions on how to get back to Marco's office.  It was a really cool area but the apartment was too small.  One of the warehouses in the area is where Charles Dickens based his book 'Oliver Twist'.

There was 1 apartment that has potential but it is way over priced.... I guess I get to look forward to another day out with Clare!

Enjoy!!