Locking down a flat while still abroad

You havent been to this place? Ive heard a lot of stories of foreigners getting scammed with apartment adverts, collecting deposits and then ghosting you as soon as they get the money. Thats not exactly what happened to me but something similar "ish" did happen to me. I would be VERY VERY skeptical of this based on just what you have said. They may be very legit but theres also a decent chance they are not. If I cant see they have keys, show me around and see them in person Im not sending money.

Edit: I will also add that in my latest hunt for apartments I reached out to a lot of people. I would get quick and eager responses but as soon as you want to actually see the place in person they ghost you. My guess is they are looking for exactly the type of potential client that is willing to send a deposit with generic photos and never actually visit the apartment. I will also note that we had an instance where a so called "realtor" woman was speaking with my wife and asked her to meet under a bridge and she would pick my wife up and to bring the deposit in cash. When my wife said she was bringing her husband and asked to actually meet at the apartment the woman went nuts and started yelling at my wife. This was obviously a scam and a dangerous one at that. The signs were obvious but I am sure there are other more subtle methods.

@mmgassociates

Sound and solid advice from member jrharvey. You would do well to heed it.

How long before you arrive?

Mmmm … in my experience 3 months rent and 3 months deposit is normal, but anyway I think there is another aspect you should consider.  I remember i once booked online a very nice apartment for a few days (i travelled in Vietnam for work a lot) and then found it was next to a buddhist temple which started its bells at  5am each day. so my sugesstion is get here, stay in a cheap hotel ( my rule is max 350k a night) and actually visit before you rent longer term!

Contact Vinhomes Grandpark leasing agents.

look for Bridget or pm me for information.

Highly recommended rental suites -  daily,  weekly,  monthly,  yearly.

Yes, 1 month plus 1 month.  standard practice here. you won find a greater place  to live from $300 a month up…

   
Hi guys. I recently found a flat that I wanted through a rental agency on their facebook page.


The page is [link moderated]



They came back after a few days, everything agreed upon, and wrote up a contract for me that I got today. I offered to send money beforehand just to lock in the apartment. Overall, to move in they want 1 month's rent and a 1 month for a deposit. They asked for the 1 months rent now, and the rest when I get there. Since I'm new to this side of the world, does anything sound like a red flag? Is it relatively safe if I sign the contract and send it back to them along with the deposit? Are there rampant scams that sound like this?



Any advice is welcome, thank you!



MG

    -@mmgassociates

I would like to chip in my tuppence worth as a 4th time long term renter & still a landlord here in HCMC but I wont go into the landlord bit renting to Vietnamese as I could write a book about that side of things!!

As far renting is concerned never ever rent a place without visiting it first. As noddi states quite rightly, you have a right good look to see you whats going on round about the place, could be a street where outdoor karaoke is on every night, could be a building site next door, could be a school (anyone who has witnessed the noise from a school at assembly in the morning  will know what I am talking about), have a good look at who your neighbours are & how they live their lives (kids running riot, doors open & loud music blaring out etc etc etc)

Again have to agree & add to jrharvey's comments. Social media like FB, Zalo etc are full of so called "agents" hocking rental properties, but actually they are just free lance chancers advertising other peoples properties & they get a cut on the rental payment just for an introduction. I have visited quite a few potential properties here in my 15+ years & what I have learned is you should never ever take what you see in the photos as what you will actually get when you visit the property. For example recently I have just moved to a new apartment & in the process of selecting one I went to view one flat that was being advertised on FB with beautiful photos of the interior & it was like new. Problem was that the photos were of the apartment when it was new like 10 years ago & when I went to view it I would describe it from a Westerners point of view as a b***dy tip!!

Take the good advice given here, book a nice hotel for a week & visit before you part with any money & sign any contract!1

Totally agree with previous comments

however, you can book an apartment here in Vinhomes for same price or lower than hotel,  and  the property agent will show you whatever you want in your budget.

With over 20,000  new and vacant properties, from Studios to 3 bedrooms furnished or unfurnished. Stay one night for daily rate to see if its what you want to rent?

24 hr security. 

Fingerprint access to building and keyless entry to suite.

Swimming pools.

Grocery and Restaurants too many to count within walking distance.

Free electric buses every 15 minutes to Thao Dien and Dong Koi street downtown D1.

Many teachers live here. Secure covered parking.