Regular readers will know I am looking to buy a flat in Stockholm right now.
Tonight was my first viewing. Two flats near Midsommarkransen.
One was very nice but had already had a high and overpriced bid, so scrap that besides which the area wasn’t the best. The view from the bedroom was pretty rough, the flat faced onto an industrial area and train track, the type of place you expect to see a couple of Mafia guys emerge from having got rid of the body.
I am sure its a safe area but…
The other flat was ok, lovely kitchen but it just didnt impress me that much.
What amused me was the estate agents. What an easy job they have got! In the UK, you make an appointment and spend the next 30 mins looking around the place whilst the estate agent is in your ear trying to sell every feature to you.
In Sweden, you rock up, take your shoes off (of course!) give the agent your name and number, look around the place ask any questions on the way out. From a salesmans viewpoint what an easy life!
It also amused me because other people are there viewing the gaff at the same time. So you see who else is potentially interested. I fancied taking a bag of rodents with me to let loose in the flat to put others off but Miss P wasn’t so impressed with that idea.
The thing is nobody looks at each other, when you approach the other person they look though or at the floor, all very very amusing!!! More tales on this to come soon I guess!
Tomorrow both Estate Agents will call me and ask if i will bid, I will politely decline, maybe not such an easy sales job after all 
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{ 4 comments }
it has been a sellers market here for such a long time and the agents have all had a cushy time taking a nice fat commission for their efforts. They advertise the places at way under what they will go for once the bidding is done and the higher the bidding goes the greater their percentage! Things have changed now and they might actually have to start working a little for their income – the market is saturated with real estate agents too – wonder why??
Don’t you just love the way people behave at these things – God forbid there should be any eye contact!! You have to love the white walls too – and all the white furniture!!
We bumped into a couple we knew at the viewing of our place and in the end it was us against them – until he clued in and rang me. They decided to back out and withdraw their bids – we withdrew a few and ended up reducing the final price – the agent was not happy – she lucked out!
Look at as many places as you can to get a feel for the area – and know the final price may well be much more than it starts out as.
Best of luck to you!
Hi!
It will be interesting to see how much some of the places I have shortlisted go for, I was amazed by one that I really liked and only 100,000 SEK more than the bid price.
I love your comment about no eye contact all very amusing really!
If you want a view you should look at Nybohov, close to Liljeholmen, or if you liked Aspudden you should go downhill and take a look at Gröndal by lake Trekanten.
Buying a flat over here can be rough at times, but the thing that really shocks me is the differences in rent based on the house’s economy.
I decided t buy in the center of stockholm as I didnt want a higher rent that is found in newer built houses.
Hammaraby (AKA little germany) is the funniest place as the apartments are new, and the rent is astrological and still a fair distance from the city!
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