About the Property
Q. How many days does it take from applying to moving in?
A. At the shortest, about 2-3 weeks. If there are any mistakes in paperwork or delayed payment, it takes longer.
Q. Can you give me a rough estimate of how much the rent should be?
A. It's generally said that the rent should be no more than one-third of your monthly income. If you cook at home and rarely eat out, you can probably save twenty or thirty thousand yen toward the rent.
Q. Can I keep a medium-sized dog in a room that allows pets?
A. Most rooms that allow pets accept only small-sized or wight 11kg or under. However, keeping medium-sized or large-sized dogs is sometimes negotiable. Please ask.
Q. When should I start looking for a room?
A. It's best to start looking for a room a month before the target date of move-in. Please note that many people start looking in the month of February every year. The rooms in February is likely taken on the same day of viewing or the closest weekend.
Contract and Payment
Q. If the contract period for the room is 2 years, is the guarantee company's cost for the 2-year guarantee? Or do I have to pay the guarantee fee again in the second year?
A. In general, the guaranteed fee covers the first 24 months and the contract renewed every year, so you need to pay continuing fee in the second year which is usually 10,000 yen. However, there are many plans, please ask agents for options.
Q. Do I have to pay the full rent the month when I move out?
A. It depends on the contract, so please check when signing. Usually, prorated reimbursement is not possible. Also, please note that you need to give the owner the termination notice one or two months in advance depending on the contract. If you delay in giving the notice, you will be charged for an extra month.
Q. Why am I charged for two-months' worth of rent as initial payment?
A. The monthly rent payment is generally done via an guarantor company. Upon signing, you need to arrange for automatic withdrawals from your bank account, which takes about two months for banks to setup in their system. Because the rent must be pre-paid, you need to pay both the present and the following months' rent when moving in.
Q. Why do I have to pay the deposit and key money to rent a parking lot?
A. Sometimes the management of the parking lot is different from that of the apartment. For this reason, you are required to pay the key money or deposit separately. Please ask the building manager directly for further details.
Q. Do I really need to get fire insurance?
A. If the lessee unfortunately encounters calamities such as fire, the individual has to cover a considerable cost. Therefore, the lessee is required to get insurance in most cases. In a lease contract, the lessee is held responsible for restoring the room to its original condition. Even if the fire is caused by someone else, the lessee has to return the room to its owner in its original state. Also, please note that the home contents insurance is not included in the property owner's fire insurance. If the lessee doesn't have a home contents insurance, and should his/her home contents be damaged by someone else's careless fire, the lessee cannot get any financial compensation. (Under Fire Liability Act, the person who caused the fire by accident is not held responsible in Japan.)
Q. What should I bring at the time of signing the contract?
A. At least, you should need the initial payment, your ID, and your seal (Hanko). You also need to bring the seal registration certificate, the certificate of residence, and if you have a co-signer, his/her affidavit and seal registration certificate. Depending on the property you move in , your withholding tax statement or proof of employment may be required.
Q. Can I get a full refund of my deposit?
A. Usually, you get back your deposit after detecting the cleaning fee when you move out. Please check when signing the contract. If you soil walls, or damage floor etc., you will be charged more.
Q. Do I need a guarantor when I apply for moving in?
A. Generally, you are requested to apply for a guarantor company. Depending on the property, you may have a private guarantor. Please ask.
Other Services
Q. Can you install an air-conditioner or a washing machine?
A. Our moving service includes installation. However, new apartments most likely have A/C.
Q. What should I do with the furniture that needs disassembly/assembly?
A. We can disassemble or assemble the furniture if you order our furniture leasing service from us. For especially difficult tasks, however, a fee may be charged.
Q. When should I ask movers for moving cost estimates?
A. We start accepting reservations a few months before the move. Since we need to secure a moving truck, it is more difficult to make a reservation during busy seasons. Please consult with us as early as possible.
Q. There are so many options for internet access. I have no idea which internet service provider is the best.
A. We can introduce you to the ISP that we think is the best match for your needs. If you are too busy to research by yourself, please ask us. The consultation is free.
Q. Do I have to pay a fee to commission an interior design coordinator?
A. There is no cost if you are considering our furniture lease service. Our coordinator will visit the property, take measurements, and give you advice. The interior design includes advice for curtains, appliances, decorations, and anything you ask for.
Q. I feel hesitant about leasing the furniture. Are there any benefits of leasing them over buying them?
A. Generally, it is more cost-effective to buy them if you plan to stay for more than two years. However, leasing has many benefits. The best thing of leasing is that you can have a free consultation by interior designer who measures everything and come up with specific layout design of the room including all arrangement and set up. Therefore, you do nothing to start your new life at moving in. Other benefit is that you can try out high-end furniture without any worries and get customer service such as repair/replacements (except for damage due to the customer's mistake), while saving effort and cost for the disposal or resale of your used furniture. Please feel free to ask us. We welcome inquiries about buying furniture as well.
Others
Q. I am a non-Japanese, what kind of support is available when I go through move-in procedures?
A. If you use our services, it normally comes with bilingual services. However, at the moment, we don’t have eligibility to deal with language except for English and Chinese. But don’t worry! Our AI “Rabbit Berry” is an expert chat robot in real estate situation with any languages. Please ask him any questions. We also offer Daily Assistance Service after moving-in (fee might be charged.)
Q. Do you provide languages support other than Japanese?
A. In case of face to face situation, we support Japanese, as well as English and Chinese.
Q. I haven't decided on the details of moving yet, so would you just send me the information?
A. We send updated property information to new account members and those who completed mailing service registration. Looking forward at servicing you!
Q. How can I get service from you?
A. Please send us inquiry form or simply talk to our AI rabbit berry by clicking on the speech bubble in the bottom at the right corner of top page.