Factors to Consider Before Moving to Madrid

When selecting potential accommodation, there are of course, numerous factors that one must take into account. Firstly are arguably most importantly, the price, closely followed by location, not forgetting the significance of the quality of the appartment itself, whether it has received good reviews or not etc. However, one must not lose sight of the fact that before committing to renting an appartment, one has to actually be able to visualise themselves in the appartment, because if not, there is simply no point investing and most likely wasting valuable time and money in this long and arduous process.

In this instance, let's take price. Living alone, let alone in a flat of 2, 3 or 4 can be incredibly taxing at times. As well as the monthly rental expenses, you have to weigh up the deposit costs, which you will likely pay before arrival in Madrid, not to mention any additional managemet fees that your agency charge you (if you go through an agency, that is). Despite the higher costs, I would recommend utilising the services of an agency because there is that extra aelement of security. If you simply do a bank transfer, it is literally a 50/50, you either get lucky and you arrive at your flat and have no problems, or it could be one big scam as unfortunately I have experienced prior to coming to Madrid, so I say this with certainty. Be careful, don't just rush into things before weighing up the positivies and negatives. If the price of a luxury flat is that good in your desired location (which we will come on to), then it is likely that it is too good to be true, all is not what it seems. There is of course the off chance that this scenario could occur, but it is unlikely so I advise you to watch out. Luckily for me, I managed to get my money back via an insurance scheme but it is certainly a lesson learnt.

Following on from this, there is of course, the minor matter of location. Do you want to be here or there? Is it close to a metro station? How far is it from my job or university? These are all very valid questions, and questions that you must take into account when whittling down your search. Let me tell you a bit about my appartment in terms of location. My flat mate and I live one of the oldest parts of Madrid, Tirso de Molina (which is also the nearest station). It is a very pleasant square with very good communications in the form of the metro station as well as a bus station and taxis are always lurking. In addition, there are 3 nice restaurants in the square, all with outdoor seating which is what I prefer anyway. They offer typical Spanish food like tapas and paella as well as relaxed and chilled vibes. We are also 5 minutes walk away from La Latina metro station and are equidistant to Sol, a more modern and buzzy area which boasts the large shopping centre 'El Corte Ingles', plenty of high street brands, some rooftop bars and a plethora of restaurants surrounding. Sol is a bit of a ventral hub for transportation due to its size and it being one of the first stations created in Madrid back in the 1920's.

Furthermore, when looking at the appartment online, it is also essential to take a moment and try to visualise yourself in said appartment for a prolonged period of time. At the end of the day, if you are spending a long time in the flat, and you are putting a great investment into this, then you want to feel comfortable, and to make it feel like home, because that is your safe place for the next period of your life, so make sure it is comfortable, cosy and warm. Make sure it is a flat you are happy to come back to from work or from university each and every day. I believe that this subject is sometimes neglected when going through the process of renting a flat, because naturally, you just want to get it done and dusted, meaning that it's just one less thing to worry about. I cannot stress enough how much it can make or sometimes break ones experience. if it is that bad, I'd simply say cut your losses and move on. In other words, pay the existing rent of the last month and start the hunt for a new appartment. Although this is again, a long and arduous process, the end result will benefit you greatly (one would hope).

I am now about to pay my last of 6 months rent, and having experienced a comfortable flat in a good location, I can safely say it has made my working experience in Madrid 100x better than what it could have been had I not found this place. I hope this has provided you with some helpful tips in guiding you towards finding accommodation, and once again if you have any queries, please feel free to get in touch. I'd be interesed to hear your views/thoughts too.