Vineyards in the beautiful countryside? A fancy beachfront property in magnificent countryside? A Pinterest-like Mediterranean villa? A cozy apartment amidst the vivid life of Barcelona? We have all thought about that. At least, from time to time. You know the urge to just move away and leave everything behind? It lives within all of us, only that in some of us it has not been starved enough so it can beg for more. Just wait, one day, it will simply hit you, and all you’ll know will be just the craving of…more. Only if the logistics of such a big move were not that challenging. Only if it had been enough for you to just place your finger on a map, sense the pull of it, and just go. It is not, though.

Beyond the obvious challenge of finances, particularly renting abroad, you’ll need to think about much more: research on cost of living, visa requirements, local laws, the process of building local support networks, empathizing with cultural differences, learning at least the basics of language, and…so much more. Furthermore, we have felt it was our duty to identify the most common mistakes one could make when renting a house abroad, so their entire process will not be left to chance, involving exclusively thoughtfully planned steps.

Let’s find out what others did wrong, so you won’t do it, shall we?

Failing To Check Out The Neighbourhood Properly

No, proactively checking the crime percentage of the place you’re about to live in or simply travel to does not make you hysterical. It is the most natural thing one could do; it's the smartest move of all. It is not even debatable whether it is a must to check neighbourhood safety or not. It does not matter whether you’re staying with young children or not; dangers do not discriminate based on age. For this reason, it would be a really great choice if you decide to take your precautionary measures to a whole new level, visiting the property after sundown and checking the safety limit. It is no secret that sometimes what looks crystal clear during the day can tell a horrific story at night, so you'd better act accordingly.

When moving abroad, at least at the beginning, you will never walk the streets with the same confidence you had in your hometown. You simply cannot. You know, maybe that big of a mouth you had when a neighbour told you something undeniably rude? Listen, you have to take it slow. You will never know the psychopath sitting next to you. The room of people always has other rooms of people. You must practice humility and respect, even when standing in front of people who deserve anything but these virtues. When you are a little fish, and the ocean is dangerously new, you cannot make that much of a noise. Instead, you tiptoe. If, by any chance, you have ever been warned about the importance of safeguarding your digital identity when traveling, with the constant reminders about sensitive data and how easily it can be manipulated by hackers, then the things mentioned above are at least as important, with much more severe consequences, unlike signing up for a custom email domain.

Undermining The Importance Of Reading The Contract Thoroughly

Many tenants assume that rental contracts follow a standard format, but this is rarely the case. When renting a property abroad, it’s essential to take your time and study the agreement thoroughly. Make sure that everything you’ve verbally agreed on is clearly written in the contract. Pay close attention to details such as the length of the notice period, the rent amount, any break clauses, who is responsible for repairs and utility payments, possible rent increases, and the conditions for ending the tenancy, including cleaning requirements.

To avoid confusion later, keep a personal record: snapping photos of each page with your phone can help you refer back to the document whenever needed.

Not Documenting The Property Straight Away After Moving In

The moment you step into a new home, it silently tells its story: cracks in the wall, a stain on the carpet, a door that doesn’t quite close. If you fail to capture these whispers at the beginning, they may one day be retold as your own doing. Photographs, lists, quiet notes, these become your shield. For though a landlord should hand you a space in good repair, the burden of proof often shifts with time. And when the day comes to leave, it is these early traces that will stand between you and the shadows of blame.

You Forgot About Negotiating? What Are You Even Waiting For?

Negotiating is not negotiable. Wait, we should make it make sense first. Like, it is not negotiable whether you should negotiate or not. Start practicing in the mirror, whatever you do, but you have to negotiate. You should be the one forging the chains, refusing from principle to accept prices that are astronomically too high. Take care, the first and most important strategy real estate agents leverage is the usage of fake viewings, so they can create the impression of high demand, ultimately retaining their business. In order to be prepared for this type of interaction, you must do your homework. Research the local market, understand the genuine value of the property, and show yourself as a reliable figure. The moment real agents sense weaknesses, that’s when they know you’re an easy target.

And what is it that we all do with easy targets if not take from them everything they are willing to surrender?

‍