Humor makes the search easier
By Riyadi
JAKARTA (JP): Ask anyone who lives in the city what it was like for them finding a home and you may be sorry you asked, says a guide to house hunting in Jakarta.
What makes this city a fascinating metropolis can also make it an infuriating place for house hunting, especially for expatriates unfamiliar with the local customs, the endless network of streets and alleys, and a confusing house numbering system.
But many realtors are ready to help. Large franchised realtors like Colliers Jardine, Procon Indah/Jones Lang Wotton, ERA Realty Indonesia are all too happy to help you find the right house in the right area to suit your budget.
The first step in finding the right house is to call one of your favorite realtors and tell them the kind of house you want, the location and your budget.
Your agent will find some suitable houses and make an appointment with you to inspect the properties.
Once you've found the home you like, the agent will inform the lessor and take care of negotiations. When these talks have finalized you will be required to sign a letter of intent and pay a booking deposit for the owner's final approval. And you can rest assured your new home is reserved.
The agent will then take care of the lease agreement, and after you agree and sign you are required to make the full lease payment. Then you get the keys.
Another way is to browse through classified ads in The Jakarta Post, for instance, focusing on the "Houses for Rent" section. When you call the advertisers you will realize some of them are also real estate agents like Suzy Realtor, Home Trend, Trihomes, Pacific Home Agency, Alvi Putra Bima and individuals, especially housewives. Once again you will be required to describe the kind of home you want.
While apartments and townhouses are the most popular and convenient forms of rental accommodation for expatriates in Jakarta, some still prefer to rent a single dwelling.
Some advantages of such a home are that it often comes with a garden, a private pool, and is generally more spacious than an apartment.
Ina Zamar from PT Procon Indah/Jones Lang Wotton said: "Houses are better value for your money, in terms of features, size and price."
The agent that finds your dream house is then entitled to a five percent commission for their efforts. The owner of the house will pay the fee.
Many expatriates come from towns and cities where people are used to staying in big homes with large gardens.
When they come to Indonesia and realize that renting a house here is not as expensive as in Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan, they prefer to rent a spacious house with a garden, pool and more privacy.
Leasing a spacious house would also be the choice for those coming here with their family.
An American executive, working for an insurance firm, and his wife have been house hunting since arriving in Jakarta last month.
"We have a large landed house in my hometown in Florida," the executive said. "Therefore we would also like to find a spacious house with a garden here.
'Prison'
"We don't want to stay in an apartment, let alone in a hotel, for one or two years," he said.
"It's like being in a prison, you know?" his wife added.
Home maintenance and security are prime concerns for Jakarta residents.
Unlike in apartments and townhouses, where maintenance and security are provided by on-site management offices 24 hours a day, people leasing a house must be prepared to pay extra for the services.
Many take up the practice of having live-in staff -- a house maid, a cook, driver, baby sitter and sometimes a security guard.
Those who cannot be bothered with recruitment and employment hassles may prefer apartments and townhouses located throughout the city.
Nevertheless, the house leasing business is still growing at a rapid pace. Cabinet ministers, other high-ranking officials and legislators are renting out their homes to expatriates through real estate agents.
Those having decent homes in prime locations like Menteng in Central Jakarta, Kuningan, Kebayoran Baru, Kemang and Pondok Indah -- all in South Jakarta -- can earn between US$2,000 and $10,000 a month from renting out their homes to expats. No civil servants, except for ministers, would earn that much.
House owners with a good business sense use the incoming rent money to buy new houses in those prime areas. Otherwise, they look for a plot of land in the right area, lease the land for several years, build a decent house on the plot and rent it out to expatriates.
A housewife who rents out a number of houses in the Kemang area said: "But now it is difficult to find a large plot of land in prime locations."
This business, like any other up-market, property-related business, is strongly connected to the ebb and flow of the country's economic and political life.
Increases in foreign investment and a conducive political situation would lead to more expats seeking such spacious homes.
The real test for the real estate industry comes next year when the People's Consultative Assembly convenes to choose the Indonesian president and vice-president.