Silent Reader's Summer Move

14 Comments
Hi Nix,

I have been a silent reader of your blog and is planning to move to WA in Feb 2014. You have been an inspiration for moving with your family while your wife is pregnant. Hope Jen and Albany are doing great! I must say I have picked up quite alot from your blog on moving to WA.

I would like to check with you on the process on renting a house in WA. I noted that we are supposed to attend an inspection arranged by the agent before we are even allowed to rent the house. May I check if I can get a friend to do so on my behalf as I am currently still in Singapore? Of cos, submission of the application will be done under my name. Is it possible?

My friend couldn't shed any light on this as her family bought a house after staying with a friend for a while. So she is not sure on the rental process. Her house is crowded enough to not accommodate us, so renting from her is a no no too in case you are wondering why I am not leveraging on my friend. Other than that, she is willing to drive around and view houses for me! (Hooray! Hope this will help in one way or another)

Also, I was hoping to join the Singaperth group in Facebook. I would like to check if anyone is renting out a room in their house.

Our plan is have the husband to go over first in late Dec 13 or early Jan 14 to secure a house before I move over with the kid. So the husband need a place to rest his feet. He is easy on the room as he will be busy out looking for a job + house in the day time.

Hope you can help.

Sorry for the long email and request from a total stranger.
Thanks in advance!


******

Dear F,


I have been puzzled receiving emails from strangers who introduced themselves as "silent readers" of this website. What should we call the other group of strangers? Hmm. Noisy readers, maybe.


Summer is a bad time to move to Perth so I applaud you for that. I think your plan is sound. Send the man over and let him do the job. It'll save you complications of getting a friend to house-hunt for you. I've done the following for you. Let me know what do you think.


1) Inform Singaperth moderator you are joining the group. So just send a request and you should be in soon.

2) I've checked with a friend and she is willing to rent a room to your husband around the late Dec - early Jan period. It is a nice house in mint condition with bathing facilities and a kitchen. No meals provided. Free first aid may be provided in the unlikely case of emergency. With that he should be able to do his house rental hunting, which may range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how he does it. The plus point is that he is free to move out as soon as he secured the rental house instead of committing to a formal short-term rental lease which other landlords may insist on. Let me know your decision ASAP and I will link you up the landlady (Singaporean) to discuss details (dates, rates etc)

3) If your husband needs a car to drive around for house hunting, I can provide Goldilocks. All he needs to do is to i) get a few days of temporary insurance (it's not mandatory - just a suggestion so that in another unlikely case of a car accident, the insurance company pays, not him.) ii) be able to drive a manual car, iii) fill up the fuel he uses. Still better than renting a car. If you have a friend who can chauffeur him around for house hunting or if he is planning to buy a new car outright, ignore this.

4) I'll pick your husband from the airport on arrival.


Reply me. You know my email address.




asingaporeanson.

14 comments:

  1. Anonymous25 November 2013 at 16:06

    Bro, I think the Overseas Singapore Unit should be subsidizing you for this! LOL, you do more work to keep Singaporeans together than the entire MoFA.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. asingaporeanson25 November 2013 at 17:12

      Let them know. I don't mind a little subsidy.

      Delete
    2. IMHO25 November 2013 at 22:38

      Do you get some kopi money from the adverts that visitors to your site clicked on?

      Delete
    3. asingaporeanson26 November 2013 at 07:38

      Probably really enough for just coffee powder

      Delete
    4. IMHO26 November 2013 at 16:09

      Will click more often. :-))

      Delete
    5. asingaporeanson27 November 2013 at 00:00

      no, no. don't. it's supposed to be clicked only when someone is interested in them. don't worry about it, it'll sort itself out

      Delete
  2. IMHO25 November 2013 at 22:36

    Job opportunities in australia seems to be slowing down.

    ReplyDelete
  3. XYZ26 November 2013 at 12:03

    Dear F

    My opinion:

    I noted that we are supposed to attend an inspection arranged by the agent before we are even allowed to rent the house.
    TRUE

    May I check if I can get a friend to do so on my behalf as I am currently still in Singapore? Of cos, submission of the application will be done under my name. Is it possible?
    YES. An Asian looks like any other Asian to some Aussies.

    Other than that, she is willing to drive around and view houses for me!
    IF SHE HAVE TIME, IT IS BETTER FOR HER TO DRIVE THAN YOUR HUSBAND SINCE SHE KNOWS THE TRAFFIC MUCH BETTER THAN HIM. SURE HE CAN GET HIS OWN VEHICLE BUT HELPS TO LEARN A FEW THINGS FROM A LOCAL FOR 1 WEEK OR SO.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ms F26 November 2013 at 12:10

      Hi XYZ,

      Thanks for your inputs!

      Point 2 "YES. An Asian looks like any other Asian to some Aussies." - Totally true!

      Cos the man has not gone over yet, so my friend is helping me to view houses and picking up application form while we are still in SG. So IF we manage to rent a place (need plenty of luck for this to happen I guess), then he has one thing less to worry and can concentrate on looking for jobs.

      *Crossing my fingers* for whatever is going to unveil in the next few months. :D

      Delete
    2. XYZ26 November 2013 at 13:45

      Ms F

      Forgot to write one thing:

      Aussie Real Estate agency can be super slack around Xmas new year period. Some don't open shop or do not do house inspection from 1 week before xmas to 1 week after new year depending on the agencies.

      So better do some homework and call the agency directly before buying a return air ticket to Perth at end of year (high season).

      Don't waste time trying to email them since they can be very slow in replying. Hello phone cards from Singapore makes the calls so much cheaper than using IDD from your home phone.

      Delete
  4. Ms F26 November 2013 at 12:04

    Hihi! I am the silent reader.

    I needed some introduction to start off my email and can't think of any other than "silent reader". Maybe I should call myself "stalker of your blog" next time. Just joking! But with this comment, I am silent reader no more!

    I have send the message to the man and I will let you know real soon on the house!! Thanks for offering your help to pick up my husband and the car. *Super touched* *eyes tearing*

    You have been a great help. I'll email you in a short while.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IMHO26 November 2013 at 16:09

      Be careful as I think Australia economy outlook is no longer so good anymore. Employment may be an issue.

      Delete
  5. CL26 November 2013 at 16:34

    Nix is really a nice person. How wish I am moving to perth and there NIX will be fetching and offered his Goldilocks. anyway I'll be moving to NZ and hoping there will be someone like NIX over there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. asingaporeanson27 November 2013 at 07:27

      Goldilocks is a 1998 car and I haven't wash it for awhile. It isn't really that good.

      Delete