Expats’ Guide to: Terms used in for-rent ads in the Philippines

Renting an apartment or condo unit in the Philippines is the norm for anyone looking to work within the city. It’s the best option if you want to stay close to where you work without having to brave the traffic nightmare that is Metro Manila’s streets.

Image grabbed from lifecirclez.net

Terms used in advertisements, however, can be confusing, especially for those renting an apartment or condo for the first time. Here are key terms you should familiarize yourself for when you start hunting for your apartment or condo unit:

Furnishing. One of the first things you look at apart from the location, number of bedrooms, price, and unit size is whether or not the apartment is furnished. Four terms usually appear on any for-rent ad:

• This means there’s literally nothing inside the unit apart from the front door. You won’t find any tiles, paint, internal doors, electrical wiring, plumbing, etc. It’s rarely used for residential units, but it is common for commercial units because of the customization that needs to be done.
• An unfurnished unit is what the owner usually gets from developers: a unit with floorings, painted walls and ceilings, fitted kitchen cabinets and sink(s), bathroom fixtures, internal doors, electrical wirings, and outlets. Some developers may also provide air-conditioning units. These are the types of units that usually go for the lowest price, what with the absence of creature comforts such as beds, chairs, a fridge, etc.
• Fully Furnished. A fully-furnished unit comes with everything you need to live in it (sans your clothes, of course). Some ads may trick you into thinking that the unit is fully furnished so here’s a list of what you should see in a fully-furnished unit:
  • A/C unit/s
  • Water heater for bathrooms (if deemed necessary for the location)
  • Fully-equipped kitchen (fridge, microwave, stove, range hood)
  • Beds with a full set of sheets and comforter
  • Curtains for ALL windows
  • Cooking utensils, cutlery, glassware, pots and pans
  • TV
  • Wardrobe/cabinet, dining set, couch, chairs

Anything less than these and the unit should to be considered as

• Semi-furnished. It’s a tricky way of saying what comes with the apartment or condo unit. It’s basically a unit that’s between a fully-furnished unit and an unfurnished unit.

 

Payment scheme. Any for-rent ad you see online will include some sort of payment scheme. For this, you only need to know two terms: deposit and advance. The rest of the terms – like post-dated check – should be self-explanatory.

• Advance. Rentals usually require an advance payment of at least 1 month so they can be assured that you’re not going away without paying for next month’s rent.
• Deposit. Also known as a security deposit, it’s a refundable amount given at the start of your stay that will cover at least your last month of rent before you move out. It can either be refunded in full, used to pay for any damage done to the property, or be used to pay for a month of rent that you may have skipped during your stay.

These are just some of the terms you need to know when you’re looking at residential for-rent ads.

Source: Fort Bonifacio Rent, TheMoveChannel.com, Global Property Guide