How to choose a rental property and what points to check? [Vietnam's new life guide]

In order not to fail, we have summarized the checkpoints for how to choose a rental property.
Please make use of it and use it for your new life in Vietnam.

Whether it is a relatively new property

In Vietnam, which has a tropical climate, you can feel a considerable difference between a relatively new property and a 10-year-old property, unlike in Japan. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Newly built property

In general, relatively new properties are more popular than older properties.

Newly built properties are characterized by "luxury and stylish interiors", "clean water areas", and "low risk of pests".

The rooms will be smaller and, in the case of family properties, the children's play areas will be smaller. Also, rents tend to be higher.

Property aged

Older properties are characterized by spacious rooms.

The site itself is large, and some properties have multiple tennis courts. In addition, the rent is often low even though the location is good. Disadvantages include "the interior feels old" and "pest risk".

Not only condominiums but also serviced apartments tend to be the same.

Even in serviced apartments that were built a long time ago, there are often rooms that have been renovated and have the smell of new construction. Condominiums, on the other hand, are up to the owner.

room size

In Japan and Vietnam, the image of the number of square meters is slightly different.

If you say 50 to 60 square meters in the sense of Japan, I think it will be the same feeling as 70 square meters in Vietnam. The big difference is that there are as many bathrooms as there are bedrooms. Thankfully, the more bathrooms, the smaller the other spaces. The most common floor plan is 70m2, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Direction of the room (sunlight)

North-facing and east-facing rooms are popular in Ho Chi Minh City, where it is always summer.

In Japan, sunny south-facing rooms are popular. However, in Ho Chi Minh City, less sun is cooler and popular. Conversely, less popular rooms face west, where direct sunlight enters the room from the afternoon. Rooms facing west tend to get hotter in the afternoon and at night, so air conditioning costs will be higher.

Room facilities

room air conditioner type

There are two main types of room air conditioners: room air conditioners and built-in types. It is a common room air conditioner in Japan, and it is designed to save energy, so the electricity bill is cheaper than the built-in type. The sound is quiet, the temperature is easy to adjust, and the filter is easy to clean.

Built-in type

They are often installed in large rooms. It has the power to cool compared to room air conditioners, but it has the disadvantage of being difficult to clean.

IH stove

It is an IH stove familiar in Japan. It is a highly safe stove because the stove does not get hot unless a pot or frying pan is placed on it. However, since special cooking utensils are required, confirmation is required at the time of purchase.

electric stove

The appearance is the same as IH, but the stove gets hot even when the pot or frying pan is not placed when it is ignited. It also features a red color change when ignited. (There is also a type that does not turn red.) Basically, most commercially available cooking utensils can be used.

Gas stove 

The most popular in Vietnam is the propane gas system. The gas fee is about 300,000 VND for 1 cylinder, and it can be used for about 2 to 3 months, depending on the frequency of use.

opening and closing windows

Windows are installed in most rooms such as condominiums and apartments. It is a good idea to check the style, size, and air flow of the windows during the interior viewing.

mosquito

In Vietnam, there are mosquitoes all year round. In addition to mosquitoes, there are many different types of insects. Insects may enter via the elevator, but if you don't like insects, you should choose a high floor above the 10th floor, preferably above the 15th floor. Regular practice of pest control can also help.

Screen door

Properties in Vietnam basically do not have screen doors. If you are concerned about pests, use an air conditioner or air purifier.

Home appliances

In Vietnam, most homes are rented out with home appliances.

Check the following points when you visit.

• refrigerator size
• Presence or absence of microwave oven and rice cooker
• Shape and capacity of washing machine, presence or absence of dryer
• outlet location

curtain

Be sure to check if the property is exposed to strong sunlight and has blackout curtains. Without blackout curtains, the sun can easily heat up the room and increase air conditioning bills.

storage space

Depending on the floor plan, there are properties that have almost no storage space and need to prepare storage boxes later. In the case of a rental property, it may be difficult to prepare a solid shelf.

In-room safe (safety box)

Except for luxury serviced apartments, most condos and apartments do not have safes. If you need a safe, you can easily buy one for around 100 USD.

veranda (balcony)

Depending on the property and floor plan, some properties do not have a veranda, and even if there is, it is narrow. If you have a veranda, you can dry your laundry and relax with a good view.

shower water pressure

Water pressure may be weak on higher floors. It may be possible to adjust the water pressure, but it is a point you want to check in advance.

bathtub

Most properties do not have bathtubs because the Vietnamese lifestyle is shower only. Also, even if there is a bathtub, there are many cases where there is no washing place. If you need a bathtub, tell the real estate agent and they will introduce it smoothly.

washer and dryer

Washing machines are standard in all condos and apartments. Apartments for singles may have shared washing machines and dryers. Some condominiums have washing machines but no dryers. It may be installed by the owner.

Internet/WIFI environment

Make sure the speed is right when you sign the contract. We handle the arrangement and coordination of contractors.

Surrounding environment of condominium

Walking distance to supermarket

In Ho Chi Minh City, you can shop in various places such as high-end supermarkets, local local supermarkets, and large-scale malls. For those who often go to the supermarket, we recommend a property with a supermarket on the condominium site.

Walking distance to school bus stop

In Ho Chi Minh City, we often see school buses. Kindergartens, international elementary and junior high schools, Japanese school buses, etc. Due to the widespread use of school buses, many people choose an apartment based on whether there is a bus stop or not. At that time, it is a good idea to have a concrete image of where the bus will stop, where the apartment building you are considering, and how long you will walk every day. In the case of large condominiums such as Vinhomes Central Park, the distance from the bus stop can be tiring.

Walking distance to hospital

Illness is the most troublesome thing in unfamiliar life in Vietnam. Especially for those who have a chronic disease and need to go to the hospital, or for families with small children who are easily ill, it is very convenient to have a Japanese-speaking hospital within walking distance. If you do not need to visit the hospital regularly, it is a good idea to check whether access to the hospital is good and choose an area.

rainy season flood

Vietnam has two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. Ho Chi Minh City in the south is hot all year round. In terms of life experience, there are two seasons: summer with 2-3 hours of squalls, and midsummer days with strong sunshine. The rainy season is from May to October and the dry season is from November to April.

In Ho Chi Minh City's Binh Thanh District and District 7, flooding is unbearable due to the reclaimed marshes. Even if the roads are submerged up to the knees, taxis, cars, and motorcycles run without worrying about this kind of scene on a rainy day.

Recently, there is no such thing as water entering the entrance, especially in condominiums built recently. On the other hand, if you live in an apartment or are thinking of opening a store, please be careful.

pet

In Ho Chi Minh City rental apartments, there are various properties that allow pets. Depending on the property, in the case of dogs, only small dogs may be permitted. Some condominiums require you to report the dog's weight and photos in advance and obtain permission. For this reason, it is a good idea to inform the real estate agent in advance if you plan to keep any living creatures.

Recently, many pet shops have started to open in Ho Chi Minh City. There are many European and American pet shops and animal hospitals, so there is no need to worry about living with pets. Depending on the shop, the service menu is also very complete, and grooming, aroma spa & massage, and temporary storage are also possible.