Tips on Finding a Place to Stay in Phnom Penh
In the past, there were not many rental properties in Phnom Penh. Most of the properties were resided by the owners themselves. However, over the past several years, the situation has dramatically changed. A neighborhood where, in the past, you could find only empty land and wooden houses is now dotted with high-rise rental residential buildings. One of the major reasons is that Cambodians are increasingly aware of the demands of expats who are finding a place for a long-term stay.
Because we now have a lot more rental properties on the market than before, it is important that you know how to find the best one. Below are the guides to finding the best rental house in Phnom Penh.
Identify your requirements
Finding a place to stay could be a time-consuming and, in some cases, frustrating experience. So, basically, you need know what you want first. If you are renting a house for the first time, here are the three basic requirements you should specify:
A. Location: decide ahead where you want to stay. You might be skeptical about the neighborhood you are looking for; thus, you can search for information regarding different neighborhoods on some expats website such as this one.
B. Size of the property: plan in advance how many bedrooms and bathrooms that you need. Different properties have different features. Therefore, to save your time, it should be crystal clear to you the number of rooms that you need.
C. Budget: another crucial point is to determine your budget. In some areas, the rent could be extremely expensive. You should therefore be clear to yourself how much rent you can afford every month.
Look for a professional agent
Deciding to go to different neighborhoods all by yourself to find a place to rent could be extremely time-consuming and costly, especially if you are on a tight schedule. There are so many real estate agents in Phnom Penh who are more than happy to accompany you to see their properties, and the good news is you do not need to pay them a single cent! However, in choosing an agent to help you, you have to be very careful. You can't afford to choose an unprofessional one.
Tell people around you about your requirements
In Phnom Penh, anyone could be a real estate agent, even if they have a career in other industry. So, it could be pretty helpful to talk to your colleagues or friends that you are finding a place to stay. Perhaps, your colleague or friends have an uncle who owns a nice apartment down the road and at a reasonable price. Who knows? After all, it does not cost you anything to tell them you are finding a place to stay.
