To date, we are working with 3 real estate agents and tomorrow we meet our fourth. In Hanoi it is not uncommon to work with several Realtors, even at the same time.
When we call a company to meet with a real estate agent, they will call us back about a time to meet to see houses. They have to call the owners, as the owners will have to meet us at the house (no lock boxes). We then decide on a meeting point - we never go to the real estate office.
When we go to see the house, if the agent we are working with is not the one listing the house, the person who listed it in their company also comes. As the owners are meeting us at the house, most of the time the agent is calling them as we leave one house to let them know we are coming to their house. Sometimes we have to wait for the owner to show up, as we get to the house before they do. Today we had to wait at one house for about 20 minutes.
Some of the houses we see are down very narrow alleys (enough room for two motorbikes to barely pass each other). When we get into an alley like that we immediately start thinking about how the piano will be moved. Getting to some houses is like going into a maze and we are thankful we are following the real estate agent back out.
Today we met with two different companies. The first one met us with two motorbikes. The agent was on a motorbike with a driver and Ann rode on the other motorbike with a driver and I rode our motorbike with Brittany. At times it felt like a motorbike group - with the roar of the three engines as we came off a small alley to the major road. Well, "roar" for motorbikes here.
The second agent was on a motorbike herself - and I had Ann and Brittany on ours. At the second house we saw with this agent - the owner let us know she has other houses that we could look at. A number of owners, whose houses we saw today, have one or more other houses. Amazing.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Back in Hanoi
Ahh, we were welcomed back to Hanoi by warmth - around 90 degrees. Two days later it was back to around the normal temperature for this time of year - in the 60's, but then continued to drop into the 50's. Not too bad, except a little cool on the motorbike. We are thankful that as we have gone out it has not been raining, though the forecast was rain everyday - it has only been raining at night. Cold and rain don't mix well on the motorbike (right Joseph?).
We began house hunting almost immediately, but due to it being Tet, the Lunar New Year, we have only been able to see 6 houses. Nothing promising yet. We see more houses tomorrow.
We are staying at a friends house by West lake as we look for a house. A day after we arrived in Hanoi, our friends left on holiday for the Tet break - and Brittany is getting to experience taking care of a dog and cat, at least some of it anyway.
My first drive across town was interesting. The city has continued to block one direction on major and minor intersections that usually have major congestion. Most surprising was near where we used to live. As you go south on Lang street (it is on Google Maps), you can not cross the intersection of Tran Xuy Hung. You have to turn right, then make a U turn to the left, and then turn right on Tran xuy Hung. At this intersection they have a type of metal fence. On many of the minor intersections that have caused major congestion, they have put in a median and planted grass - so the intersection no longer exists. You have to turn and do a U turn further down to get across the street. I have been told that this strategy seems to be helping the traffic congestion. I'll try to have a picture in the future.
As I made my trip across town I was reminded again of house dangerous it can be. I saw this poor woman who had been on a bicycle laying on the ground, surrounded by a group of people. From what I could tell, a motorbike had crashed into her while she was riding her bike. I hoped she was not too hurt as she was moving.
As we are taking care of our friends dog, I have had the pleasure of taking the dog for walks in the morning. On these walks I have seen some very pretty birds - this morning I saw a bird with a very blue coat, an orange breast a long beak and about 5 or 6 inches tall. Wish I had my camera with me. I also saw, in what looked like a pool of water cut off from the lake, hundreds of fish with their heads above water looking for food. That is until I poked my head over the rail and they all decided it was safer to disappear. On the sidewalk I take the dog on, there are periodic man whole covers (but rectangular). As these are connected to the lake, a man had his fishing line down the whole. I'm not sure if his odds were better or not.
This was a long post - but much to tell in the short time being here. Next blog - about our house hunting experience.
We began house hunting almost immediately, but due to it being Tet, the Lunar New Year, we have only been able to see 6 houses. Nothing promising yet. We see more houses tomorrow.
We are staying at a friends house by West lake as we look for a house. A day after we arrived in Hanoi, our friends left on holiday for the Tet break - and Brittany is getting to experience taking care of a dog and cat, at least some of it anyway.
My first drive across town was interesting. The city has continued to block one direction on major and minor intersections that usually have major congestion. Most surprising was near where we used to live. As you go south on Lang street (it is on Google Maps), you can not cross the intersection of Tran Xuy Hung. You have to turn right, then make a U turn to the left, and then turn right on Tran xuy Hung. At this intersection they have a type of metal fence. On many of the minor intersections that have caused major congestion, they have put in a median and planted grass - so the intersection no longer exists. You have to turn and do a U turn further down to get across the street. I have been told that this strategy seems to be helping the traffic congestion. I'll try to have a picture in the future.
As I made my trip across town I was reminded again of house dangerous it can be. I saw this poor woman who had been on a bicycle laying on the ground, surrounded by a group of people. From what I could tell, a motorbike had crashed into her while she was riding her bike. I hoped she was not too hurt as she was moving.
As we are taking care of our friends dog, I have had the pleasure of taking the dog for walks in the morning. On these walks I have seen some very pretty birds - this morning I saw a bird with a very blue coat, an orange breast a long beak and about 5 or 6 inches tall. Wish I had my camera with me. I also saw, in what looked like a pool of water cut off from the lake, hundreds of fish with their heads above water looking for food. That is until I poked my head over the rail and they all decided it was safer to disappear. On the sidewalk I take the dog on, there are periodic man whole covers (but rectangular). As these are connected to the lake, a man had his fishing line down the whole. I'm not sure if his odds were better or not.
This was a long post - but much to tell in the short time being here. Next blog - about our house hunting experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)