Ten things to consider when looking for accommodation in Qatar

House hunting is an important aspect of an expat's life, since home is where the heart is! 

In Qatar, the rates of housing have sky rocketed in the recent past, and it seems like prices keep going higher. 

With more and more people coming into the country, apartment buildings are mushrooming everywhere.

To help you in your search, here are some tips that you could consider when looking for a new apartment.

1- New to the country? Then, before you head out with that list of apartments to check out, do a research on the general rental that is charged for different types of accommodations in the country.

This will help you to decide on how much you could spend on your apartment as rental. You could go here for more information.

2- The location of your accommodation is an important factor to consider, since nobody would like to be stuck in traffic for hours when travelling to and from work.

Make sure the apartment you’re looking for, is located in a suitable area which can provide easy access to work, the kids’ school, etc.

If you don’t have a vehicle, look out for how far the public transport spots are from the accommodation. Here's a list of the bus schedule and their stops.

3- Get to know who the neighbours are. It is always good living in an area where there are friendly and helpful people around when you need it.

4- Check whether the building comes with parking.

In Qatar, it's not easy to come across separate parking slots. However, make sure there’s some place for your car, even if its on the road.

This may mean visiting the area in the evening, since the daytime might be very quite with all drivers gone to work with their cars. 

5- A very common element in many apartments here would be pests. Make sure that the apartment is roach and pest free.

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6- You have a pet? There are people of numerous nationalities and religions residing in Qatar. So, you might need to talk about your pet with your landlord.

7- It's almost impossible to get the dream house that you want when you're looking for an apartment.

However, focus on exactly what you need and go for places with just that. 

For instance, if you need a big kitchen but you won’t mind a small washroom then focus on that.

8- Make sure whether the apartment comes with the other utilities like electricity, water etc. Also, check whether you’d need a Wi-fi and TV connection too.

9- Although you’d be looking for a new place to stay there for a long time, you could check on how you could leave the place in case you need to shift suddenly. 

Most lease agreements would lock you in for a complete year, but this may be something that you can negotiate with the agent before you move in. 

10- Finally, getting a place you like might be a little tough in Qatar. 

However, once you get one, don’t hesitate to move in, for there’ll be so many others looking for a place just like you. So make sure you keep your RP and other documents ready.

Do you have any tips to share?

Is there a specific agency or real estate company that you would recommend?