There are now lots more opportunities to move to compounds in the Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim areas that might be closer to your schools (perfect for cutting down your commuting times!). Our Sassy property expert has found some of the best deals around.

Great for JBS as in Jumeirah 1 – AED 160,000

Close to the beach (just 50 yards) and also a short walk to Mercato this older compound is great and superb value. There is a communal pool and friendly neighbours on this old school Jumeirah compound. The villas have three bedrooms and a maids room and are spacious plus all bedrooms have en suite bathrooms.

Great for Home Grown Eco Nursery in Al Safa 2 – AED 230,000

This super four bedroom compound villa is on a fabulous family compound just two hundred metres from one of Dubai’s most popular nurseries meaning that if you have a nanny, she could always help with pick up and drop off. It has a pool and a gym and the residents have got together to buy a large trampoline and a climbing frame for the children to enjoy.

Ideal for Jumeirah Primary School or Jumeirah College – Jumeirah 3 – AED 265,000

This beautifully maintained compound is a short walk to the schools and has a super temperature controlled swimming pool, and a decent gym. The villas have four bedrooms, are light and spacious and well equipped and the location is excellent.

Al Manara – great access to all schools – AED 240,000

We love these four bedroom windtower villas. They provide a private safe garden and top facilities. The maintenance is excellent and this villa is bound to be very popular. Don’t miss out!

STAR value in Jumeirah 3 – one month free and four cheques – AED 190,000

Although marketed as five bedrooms this is in essence a four bedroom villa with a ground floor room as an office or playroom. The rooms and villa is large, with en suite bedrooms and it is well located. The clubhouse has a gym and a pool.

Great for Kings Dubai – Umm Suqeim 3 – AED 240,000

This is a great location and a lovely four bedroom villa with a private garden and a shared pool. There’s a downstairs bedroom, an upstairs family room and a roof terrace.

There are many more compound villas available throughout the area and please check them out at www.tregoning.property or call Harry any time to discuss your needs on 055 3364111.

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Apparently the rental market is swaying in our favour, prices are coming down and more properties are becoming available. If you’re tempted to find a new home, our sassy real estate adviser gives us a few tips on making the decision to move or stay…

Why move?

At the moment people are looking to move because they are seeking better value than they are already getting. Also moving to be closer to schools and work is a general decision behind moving. The other obvious reason for reason is a change in family structure i.e. having a baby, changing schools, children growing up and leaving home. Currently, there’s a little more supply than during other times of the year as many families leave at the end of the summer term so it’s a good time to be looking.

If you are fed up with poor maintenance then a move is often a great idea. Dubai landlords range hugely and the best are those with their own maintenance teams. They are usually very experienced and have total knowledge of how their properties work. A watchman on a compound is another good sign, although not for his watching, as he will be the first person to call on should something go wrong and secondly you can chase him for action. Maintenance is a good reason to move but try and ensure that your new landlord will be better. There are several landlords to be avoided and a good agent can advise you on them.

Rental increases are generally controlled by the RERA index and these should be respected – registering your contract with www.propertyrights.ae is a good way to remain aware of your rights. However landlords can choose to ignore this which not only leads to a lot of stress but also a decision to move! Try to make sure that the villa you move to is not likely to create the same strains. Keep an eye on the RERA rent calculator for any new villa you sign on. It will give an indication of what your second year rent adjustment will be.

The Practicalities

A new deal and a new start all depends on what you agree with your new landlord. You’ll also need to make sure that you leave your previous property in a great state so that you get your deposit returned. There is the cost of repainting, filling in the holes and other general repairs which can add up (in a landlord’s eyes) if not seen to. If getting your deposit back is an issue then visit www.propertyrights.ae for advice.

Moving will mean paying an agents fee of  5% (the standard percentage) to the agent who finds your new home. Although they may not receive all of it due to side deals this is always a cost of moving and a good agent should earn his salt during the move so don’t be afraid to ask questions and use agents for their expertise and advice!

If you are moving from an apartment to a villa please be aware you security deposit is a standard AED 4,000 to open a DEWA account which is double the apartment security deposit. Gas bottles have an AED 500 deposit.

And then there’s the cost of moving itself. You can either do this yourself, depending on how many personal belongings you have or you can use varying classes or removal firms to do the packing, moving and unpacking. There are local and international movers readily available and this cost is dependent on the volume and distance of the move. Remember to think about the dismantling and reassembling of furniture plus new curtains and fittings too.

Make sure to check out the Sassy Mama Guide To Moving House in Dubai

Finally comes the fun part –   buying furniture and decorating your new home.
Check out the Sassy Mama Guide to moving home and to getting things made.

In a nutshell – a move will cost you but you may end up saving money in the long run (if your current landlord refuses to cover maintenance costs or follow market valuations). Most expats end up moving around a lot – it’s a great way to experience different sides to the city!

The post To Move or Not to Move: Finding a New Home in Dubai appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Moving is one of the most stressful things we do in life and it’s something we tend to do a fair bit in Dubai. Your agent should be amazing and not an expensive irritation, says Harry Tregoning, Sassy Dad and Managing Partner at Tregoning Property, as he gives us the stepping-stones to moving into our dream home. Here’s to making it less stressful!

Get your timings right…

If you live here already make sure you know your notice period and abide by the agreement. Typically it is best to look a fortnight before you move but if this feels too risky start a little earlier. The reason for this is that landlords usually will allow you a fortnight from signing the contract to moving in. Once an agreement has been reached it usually takes less than 24 hours to sign the contract and you are then locked in. Once the contract is signed it is a matter of getting everything ready and moving in and this could be as soon as the next day or after a fortnight. DEWA can be connected in a day and Etisalat allow 48 hours to get going.

Get yourself an ace agent…

A good agent will work seamless magic; find properties you didn’t know existed, and ones that are perfect for you. It is vital to find an agent that specialises in an area, knows the local landlords and the local amenities inside out. Personally, I live in Umm Suqeim and specialise in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah. Living and working in the neighbourhood enables me to provide a much fuller picture. However, not everyone choses to live in the same place and my team concentrate on other parts of Dubai to ensure we can assist professionally in other areas, too.

… That meets the brief

It’s our job to meet your brief and find you a home that you love. Let your agent know your budget and wishlist and they should swiftly transform this into properties to see, or work relentlessly to find some. If an agent is not listening to you or showing you things you think they’d like to rent rather than you, move on.

… That successfully negotiates

You’ve seen your dream home but are actually allergic to the avocado bathroom tiling? An agent worth their salt will have a strong relationship with landlords and know who is prepared to re-tile and who will always resist. Your chosen agent is your secret weapon and should be able to swiftly negotiate on your behalf and remove stress from your moving process.

When you find your perfect choice go for it! Good properties move quickly and many villas are on the market with multiple agents.

… That makes the admin as pain-free as possible

There is a certain amount of admin to complete and this is unavoidable, but also exciting as it locks in your new home. Your agent should fully guide and oversee this process. Everyone has to pay a security deposit, typically 5%. DO make sure you have seen the Title Deed before you write cheques, which should always be written to the person listed as the owner unless there is a supporting Power Of Attorney. Between them, the landlord and agent will prepare the contract and then the cheques will be exchanged. You will be required to sign the contract first, followed by the owner. Some landlords will then issue the EJARI and others will insist you do it yourself and your agent can help with this, too.

… That makes snagging seamless

When you are ready to move, ensure you have your snagging list at the ready and that your agent lets you know who will undertake this work. Liaise with your agent and the head of maintenance to make sure that the house is in the order you expect. Be firm about what you want as it is hard to revisit once you are in the property. If you follow these guidelines you are sure to find a good home and as every husband knows happy wife equals happy life…(we’ll raise a glass to that Harry!)

Want to know what your dirhams will get you these days? Here’s Harry’s mini guide…

AED 120,000 – entry point for Springs two bed villa – perfect family starter villa – people that need stairs and a gardener in their life!
AED 140,000 – two bed apartment in Damac Waves, Marina – young couple maybe with a baby with a room for friends to stay in. Not good for vertigo sufferers.
AED 200,000 – starting price for decent villas in Umm Suqeim & Jumeirah – older stock but ideal to be close to those schools and nurseries in nappy valley.
AED 240,000 – three bed villa  in Desert Palm – ideal for those who’s children are growing up and they want to ride a pony or live in a natural paradise.
AED 250,000 – Good five bed Jumeirah 3 compound villa – family really well established now in Jumeirah and you can walk home from DOSC.
AED 300,000 – starting price for four bed villa in Hattan, The Lakes – this is meant to be Bankers alley and the villas are priced accordingly.
Over AED 400,000 – you can get quite a mansion in many places particularly Al Barsha and start considering living the dream on the Palm.

The post Top Tips Before Moving House in Dubai appeared first on Sassy Mama.

A new home might be mega exciting (just think of the decorating, the trips to Ikea, the Pinterest boards and make sure you check out our guide to the best furniture stores in Dubai for kitting out your crib, our list of where to get things made if you need anything from new curtains to stair-gates and the best at-home services, because you won’t want to leave your lovely new pad) – but moving house is apparently the third most stressful event in life, particularly when you have little kiddos on board. Whether you’re relocating to Dubai or moving within the city, we’ve put together a handy guide to get you packed up and on the move Sassy style, mamas!

Cleaning

Whether you’ve got to get your old property ship-shape (don’t want to risk losing that deposit, right mamas?) or your new home isn’t quite up to scratch – it’s time to call in a cleaning team mamas!

Clean & Shine
These guys do exactly what it says on the tin – they clean and they shine (and they have a deep cleaning steam machine that gets rid of anything really yukky). Oh and they can also clean your outside space, steam upholstery and rugs, polish your marble – and they also do yachts if you happen to have one of those.

Tel: (+971) 55 613 6007; www.cleanandshine.ae

Molly Maid
Molly Maid is one of the original part-time cleaning agencies in Dubai and are experts at getting the house (or apartment) spic and span mamas.

Tel: (+971) (0)4 339 7799;
 www.mollymaidme.com

Swiss Cleaning
A Swiss-owned company (and isn’t Switzerland the cleanest place on Earth?) that specialises in all things cleaning – from one-off deep cleans to regular visits – these guys will have your new abode or old home looking sparkly.

Tel: (+971) (0) 52 725 7587, www.swisscleaning.ae

And lastly… Editor Kaya isn’t ashamed to admit that she is ever so slightly obsessed with her new cordless LG vacuum cleaner – the CordZero Handstick (err, really Kaya?!). Having recently moved home she put this little baby to the test, sucking up the dust and grime without having to plug it in (handy since DEWA wasn’t yet connected).

Available at Sharaf DG.

Decluttering

Moving is an excellent opportunity to get rid of the old, to make way for new – just don’t tell the other half.

Melltoo Marketplace
A locally created app that brings you a secondhand marketplace with a huge difference – mainly that the payment process is entirely handled by them (hooray) and pickup and delivery of items is also arranged (double hooray) AND items are promoted on multiple platforms so are being seen by more people (triple hooray!). This is the ultimate secondhand buying and selling experience that allows you to get rid of clutter without the stress – plus make a little spending money for doing so. We love.

www.melltoo.me

Take My Junk
If you haven’t heard of this awesome company before then listen up mamas. Take My Junk will collect any of your unwanted stuff – from clothing to furniture to half used bottles of shampoo to toys to appliances to broken bikes to cardboard (frankly almost anything – we think you get the picture) all for free and recycle it among lower income communities. They’ll even sometimes pay you (if your items are really super duper) and will only charge if they need to dispose of whatever you’ve cast aside. All you gotta do is visit the site, send an email describing your stuff and they’ll pick it up at a convenient time. Quick, efficient, friendly and just brilliant. Because one mama’s junk is another mama’s treasure.

info@takemyjunkuae.com, www.takemyjunkuae.com

Real Estate Agents

There are literally 100’s of property brokers in Dubai but let’s just say that not all of them are qualified (despite RERA’s best efforts) and there are nightmare stories of rentals-gone-wrong a plenty. Beware of fraudsters and scams, mamas – if a deal sounds too good to be true then it most probably is, avoid dealing with brokers without RERA certification or a trade license, question agents with no landline or physical office address and check out The Dubai Land Department’s ‘Dubai Brokers App’ that’s available free of charge on Play Store and App Store. Oh, and check out a few of our real estate faves…

Tregoning & Stockwell
Mamas, breathe a huge sigh of relief, British guys Harry Tregoning and Nick Stockwell are 2 (very lovely) superhero agents who set up shop in 2014 and are now taking the city by storm, saving us from all the agent (and landlord) villains out there. With a particularly strong knowledge of Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim (but with partner agents in other areas if you’re looking elsewhere), both guys have lived and breathed Dubai for years and are all about cutting through false promises and delivering quality properties. Great at negotiating on your behalf (Ed Kaya recently got new bathrooms installed in her new home thanks to Nick’s persuasive skills) and always cool as cucumbers (even when the clock is ticking), this dynamic duo is ultra professional and totally charming. Follow them on Facebook to check out some of their properties before they officially come on the market – just prepare to get house envy often mamas.

We asked Harry and Nick to answer a few frequently asked house move questions and this is what they said:

Q: If you are already renting but want to terminate your lease early – what are your rights?
A: This varies as per your contract. In the first year the standard contract will state you need to give a month notice and then you forfeit two additional months. In reality, depending on your landlord and the length of time you have spent there as well as the number of cheques, landlords can be much more flexible, particularly if a replacement tenant can be found However it must be noted that RERA rules state that the landlord is not under any obligation to return any rent of the contract is broken early by the tenant.

Q: How far in advance should you start looking for a property?
A: The key fact that tenants should be aware of is that upon agreeing (verbally or by email) to take a villa at an agreed upon price, landlords as a rule give 10 days grace period before starting the contract, however this can go up to a month. The contract start date can become a negotiating factor. In an ideal world, and it depends on market conditions, you would allow one week to find and negotiate on a property and allow two weeks for any maintenance, snagging and cleaning to be carried out. However, there is a risk that you won’t find your dream home in this time frame!

Ultimately if you can risk it you should start three weeks prior to moving as that allows a week to find a houses and then one to two weeks till the contract starts and you move in. It is all very quick in Dubai and like any landlords in the world they do not want their villas to be empty for long.

Q: Do all estate agents make the same commission? Is it legal for a landlord to ask for commission too?
A: All real estate agents charge the Industry Standard of 5% for finding a rental and 2% for a sale. This is often split with other agents, property managers and landlords subsequently. Some property management companies charge a service or maintenance charge on top and this should be declared prior to signing of contract. There is no law on charging additional or varied commission but it is most usual to charge the Industry Standard rates.

Q: What do you need to have in place in order to secure a property?
A: For new arrivals you will need to have a Resident’s visa and Emirates ID in place as well as a bank account and cheque book. Now some landlords know that a new resident won’t immediately have these documents but as long as they arrive in a timely manner then they will deal with you, however you can’t sign an EJARI registered contract until the necessary documents are in place.
Once the paperwork is in place you need a deposit. Then your cheques for the year rent will be presented and the contract written and signed. For purchases I attach our ready reckoner for the process.

Q: What are the landlords obligations before you move in?
A: Quite simply to get the house into a habitable and tidy state. We work with the landlord and the tenant to make sure that the property is ready and snagging has been completed so you are ready to move in. The main things you should ask to happen are AC cleaning and pest control as well as a full deep clean of the property.

Tel: (+971) (0)55 3364111 (Harry) or (+971) (0) 55 3365111 (Nick); www.facebook.com/TregoningandStockwell

The Property Shop
Owned and run by gorgeous British mama Catriona, this agency refuses to work with unscrupulous landlords (hoorah!) and actually listens to your requirements (i.e if you want a 3-bedroom apartment, they won’t show you a 10-bedroom house). Catriona and her team cover the city – from Mirdif to the Ranches, Dubai Marina to Satwa and are reliable, friendly and most importantly, honest.

Tel: (+971) 4 345 5711; www.propertyshopdubai.com

Better Homes
Set up at her dining table in the late 1980’s by Canadian mama Linda Mahoney, Better Homes now has a huge presence across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the GCC. Whether you want to buy, rent or short stay there are offices in most major locations all over the city including the Arabian Ranches centre, JBR, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Park.

Tel: (+971) 600 52 2233; www.bhomes.com

ERE Homes
This British led real estate agency caters to all your property needs – be they to buy, sell, rent or re-locate, particularly in the newer communities such as Dubai land, Victory Heights and JVT. Helpful and knowledgeable, the huge team of property consultants here are super keen and fully trained – check out the website for their latest rentals, properties to buy or just to have a look at all their lovely faces!

Tel: (+971) 4 455 0800; www.ere-homes.com

Espace Real Estate
Buy, sell, let – Espace do it all (you’ve probably seen their fleet of vehicles and billboards around town). Mostly present in the newer communities they can help with almost anything property related, from maintaining your property to insurance, mortgages to removals and storage.

Tel: (+971) 04 306 9999; www.espace.ae

Removal Companies

Don’t fancy renting a van and doing it yourself? No, we don’t blame you mamas. Call in the experts and rest-assured that your stuff will be packed up and delivered safely.

EasyTruck
You’ve probably seen the bright yellow Easy trucks and vans whizzing about town – we’re huge fans– not least because it’s one of the brainchild’s of amazing mama Natalie Humphreys (her others are Baby Bazaar and The Nursery Show) but also because they’re professional and reliable. Need to store stuff? Not a problem – they can do that too. Oh and they’ll buy you a pizza to scoff once you’re in your new abode – YUM!

www.easytruck.ae

Euro Movers International
Endorsed by many a moving mama, Euro Movers International can help you move locally (within Dubai) or Internationally in a totally slick and expert way.

Tel: (+971) 4 340 3920; www.euromovers-ae.com

Mac Pack Removals
The owner of this expat run business – New Zealander and dad of 2 Rick – is so charming that you’ll be won over after the first call. Rick and his team will do their very best to work around your schedule –napping babies and all, work relentlessly hard and can do all the extras like hanging curtains, mirrors etc. A great group of guys who have a laugh (but work hard at the same time) and clearly love their job – the only problem is that they’re very busy ALL the time so get in there quick for a quote.

Tel: (+971) 55 946 9222; www.macpackdubai.com

E-Movers
We’ve heard nothing but praise for the E-Movers gang whose method is to assign one person per room to pack and then unpack at the other end, meaning that your new house will feel like home instantly. They can also send an extended team to reassemble furniture, re-hang curtains and take care of any extras you need.

www.emoversuae.com

Pets

Critter Sitters Dubai
Founded by an animal loving mama of 3 (or 7 if you include the 3 dogs and 1 cat), Critter Sitters also offer doggie daycare (complete with pick-up if needed) plus daycare for other pets depending on availability and which other guests they have at the time. Call for advice and assistance with your furry friends for your house move and they’ll definitely help if they can. Purrr-fect.

www.crittersittersdubai.com

Pet Sitting Dubai
Avoid doggie meltdowns by arranging for your beloved Rover to go stay with a pet sitter in their very own home (no kennels, cages or huge gangs of unknown dogs to deal with). These guys offer everything from doggie day care to sleep overs plus can pick up in a pet taxi, arrange for a pet bath and even soothe stressed doggie nerves with a pet massage.

www.petsittingdubai.com

Maintenance Companies

Usually the responsibility of your landlord (hmmm) – if you’re not one of the lucky ones who gets this as part of your contract then the following companies can help with everything from faulty a/c to plumbing.

Howdra
A British family owned maid and maintenance company, Howdra can take care of the regular maintenance of your home (with regular a/c, plumbing, pest control, water tank cleaning etc) and also sort your one-off needs (painting, DIY or any emergency work) – all in the most professional and efficient way. Hooray.

Tel: (+971) 4 238 0088; www.howdra.ae

Jim Will Fix It
Put away that toolbox, mama! Give this company a call and a handyman will come to your rescue, whether the problem is electrical, plumbing, painting or decorating, to do with the air conditioning, DIY jobs, or carpentry. The company only employs staff that are university graduates, with at least 5years of hands-on practical experience and excellent English language skills so there’ll be nothing lost in translation (who wants bookshelves on the ceiling anyways?).

Tel: (+971) 800 349
; www.jimwillfixit.ae

Pest Control

Want to make sure your new home doesn’t come with any creep crawlie surprises? Of course you do mamas.

Bug Busters
Bug Busters are an awesome pest control company founded by a very sassy mama of 2 whose team get to grips with everything from roaches (ahghgh!) to rodents. Using only the very best treatments possible (mostly non toxic and highly effective), the Bug Busters guys will make sure that your new home stays free of any uninvited house guests.

Treatments for a villa start at AED 500 and come with a follow up service and 3 month guarantee
www.bugbusters.ae

And lastly…

Chances are you won’t be in the mood for cooking up a storm on your first night. So treat yourself and the fam to a takeaway mamas – check out our guide to the best food delivery options in Dubai.

Happy moving! xx

The post The Sassy Mama Guide To Moving House In Dubai appeared first on Sassy Mama.

A family run business (love those), Flatreviews.com encourages reviews by actual residents –bye, bye real estate agent lingo and hello to the real nitty gritty- and are available for everyone to see, free of charge or registration. Would you book a holiday or reserve a special table without some inkling of what to expect? Heck no mamas! So now you can read a review about your potential home and make a well-informed decision about that too – make so much sense to us!

Whether you’ve got something to say or you’re looking for some honest inside knowledge, Flatreviews.com is the perfect platform to do so (and all reviews are thoroughly checked to make sure they’re fair and credible). Need to let the world know about shoddy maintenance or give a huge shout out to a fabulous landlord? Just visit the site and fill out the form – it’s as easy as that.

And should you need even more of an incentive to share, Flatreviews.com have monthly giveaways to encourage reviews… Fancy a new iPhone 6 mamas? You have until end January. This is definitely something to write home about.

Flatreviews.com, www.flatreviews.com

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