Well, well, well!! (Sigh…..No, not 3 holes in the ground.) To my surprise I have had a few enquiries about buying apartments in Odessa and Kyiv after you good folks have read the blog “An Idiot’s Guide To Buying Property”……..or whatever I called it…….I’ve slept since then!!
You are all correct, there is no English website or on-line newspaper which will help you find what you are looking for. The much talked about Aviso…..which is very good for telling you what is for sale, has no pictures (or not many) and is only available in Russian language. For your information, there is another newspaper called the “Market”……..but again it is no help to you unless you can read Russian…..so for those who have contacted me there was no point in mentioning it really now, was there!!
I am working on a website (when I have the time) which will help you in your search for your apartment, house, land….which will be in English and available later in the year. It will predominantly focus on Odessa………..and begrudgingly Kyiv.
As with everything, choosing your apartment (or home of whatever description) comes down to location, location, location!!!
All “new build”……..or the vast majority of them, are sold as a “shell”……meaning you cannot just pick up your TV and sofa and move in, but will have to have the insides fitted out….that includes the kitchen and bathroom!! When I say you buy the “shell”, I literally mean you buy the “shell”.
Do not worry about buying an “older” apartment. As long as it is structurally sound (and I will tell you if it is…..or is not), 99% of the time, you will want what is fitted inside “ripping out” and refitting to a standard you would want at home….and a lot more electrical sockets!!!
I start such a project either later this week (or next week) for an American chap who has an apartment in Odessa, although he is in LA, near the Primorski Steps………and have an Australian gent waiting for me (and my gang of little helpers) to do his in Odessa after that. No, no, no…….it’s not that I can only do one at a time, I can do several at a time…..it’s just the “Aussie” is not here at the moment and wants to “walk it” with me before we start. (As it happens, I am still finishing a house we built and are currently decorating, some I am not desperate for work………..although there is no such thing as too much work)…..and then there is my own to finish!!
Pending the development of the website, (name yet to be chosen, so ideas are welcome) in which I will only feature apartments/houses/land, in a good location or of exceptional value for money, (as well as some good commercial properties), you can of course, contact me via this blog. When I say good location, I mean a good place in the city or near the beach (within 5 or 10 minutes walk “maximum,” if the beach is your driver). I, (I say I, one of my little bilingual helpers) will assist you in finding what you are looking for and within your price range when you come here (for a fee……..but it will be worth it to have someone who can explain everything in English to you and is experienced in this line of work).
Of course, when you buy something and want an English speaking builder to do the “fit-out” I am, as the saying goes, “at your disposal”………..If you are the adventurous type though, I can recommend some experienced locals (but not many……as most have no qualifications, even if they have experience of doing things the right way…….or in most cases, the wrong way) to you…..but you will need to pay for a translator of course…..and “keeping up to speed” when you are “back home” and your newly acquired apartment “refit” is on-going, by email with a Russian speaker may be somewhat of a challenge…..even with photographs! Life is supposed to be an adventure though……isn’t it?
If you do go “local” my only free advice, is to ensure that any gas and electrical works are “signed off as being correct…..and registered as such” by the proper authorities, as $5 says they won’t be unless you insist on it with your builder!!………….You have been warned!!!
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