Q&A: Housing, Relocation and Delivery in China

Guide to Housing Rental for Foreigners In China

Q&A

1.How to do the payment?

Normally, rent should be paid for three months in advance, with a deposit of one month. And sometimes, pay monthly is also okay(but owner may ask higher rent). Remember do not pay more than 3 months in advance to the company, which rent apartments from the landlord, or you may suffer the risk of deception.

2.How to do the viewing?

To view apartments, contact in advance is necessary. In accordance with the local investigation at the scene, our agency will provide plentiful options to customers before the viewing. After picking up and viewing, we’re glad to analyze the pros and cons and do comparisons to help you move on to the next stage. It’s our pleasure to show you around the surrounding entertainment and facilities as well.

3.Is the price negotiable?

The original price is often disputable. It depends on many aspects, for example, how long is  the lease term; whether extra furniture is needed to buy; what time to sign the contract and move in; what is the current market price. As the saying goes, everything depends on the right time, the suitable place and the nice landlord. Anyway, our agency would try our best o fight for a nice price for you.

4.What to do before moving in the apartment?

Before moving in, we offer standard bilingual contract and list (which is recognized by expats in Suzhou). Our agency would pay off the utility bills left by the former tenant. Furthermore, we will make it clear whether the electrical appliance works well and whether there are any big cracks on the wall. We suggest taking photos and confirm situations with the owner before moving in, to make sure the deposit will be refunded when the lease is expired(if anything else is okay).

5.What should be noticed after signing contract?

The foreign tenant should bring passport to do registration in corresponding police office. Do remember to pay utilities every month, in case there would be no water and electricity(our agency can pay the bill on your behalf for free). If furniture or appliance are broken, contact the agency instantly. Last but not the least, don’t forget turn off the gas device when going out for a long journey.           

It is a hard thing for foreigners to rent an apartment in China. If you can speak good Chinese and know quiet well about the location, it may be easier, but if not, you’d better consult a professional agency. FocusT Foreign Rental service is an efficient and dedicated agency to free you from hassles in house rental things and daily routine, and most importantly, to help you find an ideal apartment.

A.After-sales service

1.Provide enough information and options, drive you to the house and inspect the house

2.Good negotiation skills with owners about the lease agreements and meet the client’s requirements before we sign a lease contract
3. Check out, deposit refund and utilities settlement

4.ADSL installation（China telecom：100mbs 200mbs300mbs500mbs 1000mbs），set up WiFi router

5. Recommend and install the smart toilet、water softener、water filter、oven、air purifier、TV box and so on

6. Indoor equipment maintenance：furniture and electrical，circuit，Sewer dredging，light replacement，kitchen ventilator cleaning，AC socket replacement, floorheating & heater maintenance，tape cleaning in kitchen & bathroom，water leak，wall painting，lock change & unlock and so on

7. Utilities payment support: water、 electricity、 gas、 internet and so on

8. Remind to pay for the rent，help issuing the rental invoice（fapiao）

B.Daily Life Service

Water dispenser purchase and water reservation

Moving service（order package boxes ）

Cleaning service（long term or few times）

Pets service:apply pets inspection and quarantine,health certificate and permit

House property insurance purchase

Rent & Buy apartments or offices from agency（Whole Suzhou）

Serviced apartment renting for a short or long term

C.Agency Service

Business license application

Bank card service（open a new card or currency exchange，e.g.）

Open a SIM card for phone

Driving license application in Suzhou, China

Temporary Accommodation Registration Form

Non-criminal background check in Suzhou

Individual income tax bill

Degree authorization

Booking bus、train，flights、cars and hotels

Taobao purchase、second-hand furniture、ebike and car purchase，

Shopping accompany，negotiation

Car rental service

D.Derivative Service

English tour guide

Chinese learning 

Various of cultural exchange activities

Work visa inquiry

For import shipments

Q&A

Q: I am a foreigner come for work in China, What documents will be required for household goods import to China?

A: We will need your Original passport, Residence permit valid for more than one year, Original work permit if residence permit is obtained due to employment in China. Other documents we will prepare and need your signature.

Q: Could your company help me import my motor vehicles?

A: We could help you import one new or used car per person if the import permit was approved by customs. But you must pay full import duties on vehicle, and an import permit must be obtained before shipment arrival.

Q: I have many Antiques, art effects, carpets and paintings want to import, could I take and What is the specific regulations for ?

A: Yes, you could take, but Oriental antiques and objects must be declared indetail, otherwise re-exportation may be prohibited.

Q: If I will take my dog to China, could you handle clearance and What documents required?

A : Yes, we could do import clearance for dogs, you need to provide the dog’s Health certificate and Original certificate of rabies vaccination

Q: I have some alcohol want to take, will it have duties?

A: Yes, sure. Duties and taxes for alcohol are extremely high. We suggest you not to include wine in the shipment.

Q: If I select your company as our mover, will you do clearance by yourself or you will consign another agent for clearance? 

A: We will clear the goods by ourselves, as we have our own customs certificate and we are major in household goods import and export clearance.  

Q: Do you need me to present to the customs when doing clearance? Could you store our goods after clearance, as I need on travel for 1 month.

A: It is no need you present for clearance and we could store your goods in our warehouse till your green light for delivery, as we have our own warehouse could keep your goods safely.

Q:  Could I book with you on your website and does it have some discount booking online?

A:  Yes, our website: www.trustmover.com.cn, please register to our member and you could enjoy our member discount price.

The Q&A list is provided by  

10 Questions about relocation

Q&A

1. What kind of moving company is more suitable to expats?

Moving companies for expats should offer the following:

• Multi-lingual staff, with languages including English, Chinese and Thai

• 24/7 availability; you want to be able to contact them if you have any questions, at any time

• An international network; you need a consistent service throughout your move, not just in China. It is at the destination that unwanted surprises will emerge, so make sure you know who will be handling your items.

2. How do I start the process?

Almost all local moving companies want you to ship as much as possible, so the very first decision you should make is to decide what you are going to send. Do you need to send the bed with a 5-year old mattress? Any electrical item you send will probably have the wrong plug for the destination, etc. 

Spend time thinking about what you need to send! Save the money shipping and buy it new at the destination.

3.  What is the pricing rule for international shipping?

Most international removal companies will first visit you to assess and quote on what you are going to send. The minimum they like to ship is usually six cubic metres. Their price doesn’t discount by much if you ship a smaller volume. 

8. If I will get to my destination later than the items do, can I nominate someone to receive my items?

It depends on which countries you are going to; 

• For Australia and New Zealand, you need to return within 6 months. 

• For the UK, EU, Canada and the US, you need to return before the items do. 

• Different countries have quite different rules, so you need to confirm with the removal company. 

Failure to do so could result in expensive storage charges being incurred by your shipment before you arrive.

9. Can I track my items for moving abroad?

Most reputable removal companies can offer tracking on their shipments. At the very least you should know where your shipment is, at all times; whether in a depot, in a container or in a vehicle. Some companies can also track their shipment in real-time whilst it is at sea.

10. What question can I expect to be asked when seeking a quotation for an international removal?

Important information includes;

• What you are going to send?

• When you want to send your shipment?

• Where you want to send your shipment; not just country but city. You will need to supply an address which can be changed once you have arrived?

• Whether you need to be in the country when your shipment arrives?

• Whether you need storage of your shipment once it arrives at the destination?

Other helpful information includes details about your collection address; is there a working lift or is there a parking area nearby, etc... 

There are so many things to consider when moving internationally, these are just some of the important ones! 

If you have any questions about the process from the planning stage to the final delivery of your items, just email or call us and Seven Seas Worldwide will be happy to help or to get you started with a quote.