Working in two different locations. Where to live?

[jezzman]

I'm a bit confused as I've started looking for a place to stay and I've just been told today that the company I will work for, will move into a new factory mid 2009.

I start work early 2008 and end my initial contract in 2011. This means that the first 1½ years I have to work in TUAS. While I'm there the company will then move to 'somewhere near Jurong Hill', which is all I know about the new location.

On a map it might not appear to be that far from eachother but sometimes I've read that distance is relative, so I would like your advice as to where you think I should look for an apartment now - considering the company's moving?

I would love to stay as close to the city center as possible and to be able to stay in the same location, despite the company moving.

Should I be concerned at all?

[skye]

Both locations are west of the centre. How will you get to work? Tuas is about as far west as you can go without being in Malaysia, so a car would be very useful. If you want live more centrally you could consider Clementi, Buona Vista/Dover, Pasir Panjang or Bukit Timah areas - not too far from orchard and easy access to Ayer Rajah Expressway or Pan Island Expressway to Tuas. Jurong area is a bit closer to the centre than Tuas - it will be generally cheaper than the areas I've mentioned but a bit further out and a more local neighbourhood but still has reasonable shopping centres, cinemas, MRT etc. Most leases run for 2 years so you may have a well-timed option to move.

[huggybear]

dude you have nine months...and you're looking now? wow, are there any procrastinators left in the world????

[jezzman]

dude you have nine months...and you're looking now? wow, are there any procrastinators left in the world????

I have no idea what a procrastinator is but I've only been to Singapore a handful of times and everytime in a hotel.

I have no idea about what to expect from the places people normally live in and where 'the good areas' are, so that's why I'm looking now preparing myself. I've never worked abroad before and especially never in a different culture. On top of that I'm kind of a control freak, so I like to plan ahead and once I'm ready to call a real estate agent I'd like to have narrowed my search down to a single or two area codes, or even to just an area e.g. Holland or Dover.

I have a colleague who ended up spending almost 4 months in a small hotel room because he didn't plan ahead, so guess that's a factor as well

When is it too early to start looking?

[jezzman]

How will you get to work?

I will probably have a car. My wife won't though, so I would like it to be close to the MRT...

[huggybear]

hello.

obviously i don't know anything about what you like and don't like about various housing options (how far away from work are you willling to live? do you want to live in a condo? what is your budget? would you consider and HDB? etc etc etc)

i think most leases (if not all) have a diplomatic clause built in so that you can break the lease after the 14th month (even tho you can stay for two years)...so you can just pack up and move to a new apartment closer to work at the new office.

since you're limited to being close to an MRT (i assume this means walking distance yea?) then i would just recommend when you get here, try to take a week off before you begin work and just go to the MRT stops around the vicinity of where you work and check out the various buildings close by. I think this process should take less then a week.

in my third day of looking i had made an offer that was accepted. the island is small...it shouldn't take long unless you're an extremely fussy person.

[sundaymorningstaple]

What I would suggest is that you get your company to opt for a Serviced Apartment for 1 month. This will give to time to get the lay of the land re: MRT, Buses, Taxi's, Current Job site and future site and so forth. As far a prices, if you have taken the time to read some of the more current threads on this site you will find that it's possible to get into a bidding scenario while actually viewing the condo. The rates are climbing that fast. Not 30%/month but I'd been almost willing to bet at least 15%. That would probably mean no matter where you would be happening to look at the moment it would quite possibly be outside your budget by the time you arrive.

The Serviced Apartment for 1 month is the best bet, especially if your company furnishes you a car very shortly upon arrival.

sms

[skye]

Just a correction about diplomatic clauses - they have to be written into the original lease and normally only come into effect if you are leaving Singapore and your employment pass is being cancelled, not just because you want to move. Loads of people get stuck in leases because even though there is no notice provision, they assume it's implied in some way. It isn't and if you sign up for one year or two years, that is the term of the lease. Another poster's advice to take a Serviced Apartment for a month is the right thing to do. Gives you time to check out where you want to spend your leisure time, whether you're a condo person or would prefer a house, transfer time to work and so on. Don't limit yourself to places near the MRT. We live nowhere near the MRT, although it's coming our way about 2010, but the bus service is extensive and cheap and taxis are very affordable.

[Loops]

I agree with SMS. See if you can get a Serviced Apartment for a month or so.

If you have your stuff being shipped over, it probably won't arrive for a while after you do (ours took 2 months!), so there won't be much point moving straight into an apartment or house if you haven't got anything to sleep or sit on, so a serviced apt is a good way to go if you can (and maybe the company will pay for it if you are lucky).