I found finding an apartment really confusing and difficult when I moved to Qatar. Here are my tips on what to look for and ask when hunting for a new home.

THE PEARL

My advice when looking for an apartment to rent at The Pearl based on my experience:
When I moved to Qatar, we signed up with an agent who charged a hefty price and did nothing besides taking us to very few apartments and disappeared when we had an issue and tried contacting them.
My suggestion would be to join The Pearl Facebook groups and ask people for their experiences with mould, maintenance, construction noise and problems.
Most apartments are owned or managed by companies and it is better in my opinion to deal directly with them instead of a third party. Go to the towers you are interested in and ask them if anything is available.

Contact

@AlAsmakhrealestate, @Betterhomesqatar, @ahbrealestate or Al Mana Company

FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED?

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Both furnished and unfurnished apartments are available on the Pearl.
Furnished:
@Abrajbay, Paramount Residence through @alasmakhrealestate and Retajj Inn in Tower 26, Porto Arabia.

INCENTIVES

Many properties offer incentives such as one or two months free rent, free Qatar Cool (central cooling system) for a fixed period or free utilities.
Some of these incentives are given at the beginning or end of the lease period which has an impact if you leave before the end.

LIABILITY

Read the contract carefully. Giving notice before the end of the lease can potentially make you liable for the full lease period. If you are retrenched, the lease would state what the rule is.

EXTRAS

The total monthly cost can be far higher than you budgeted for as Qatar Cool, utilities and maintenance work might not be included in your rental. Clarify what is included.

PETS

Pets are allowed in certain buildings and areas only.

READ THE FINE PRINT!

This is very important. A friend was caught by a leading agent as her fine print stated she needed to pay an agents fee every year when she renewed her lease and not once off like most people do.

CONSTRUCTION

Presently there is a lot of construction and it can drive you crazy. Before signing it is best to visit the building.

MAINTENANCE

Properties at the Pearl with multiple owners sometimes only offer common area maintenance and not internal maintenance.
Other properties have 24hr maintenance available at no charge.
The above advice is based on my experiences. This is not a sponsored post.

AMENITIES

Amenities in your building such as a gym, pool and kids area can save you money long term.

SNAG LIST

Make a snag list before moving in. Take photos and document any issues, scratches and problems and EMAIL it to the agent or maintenance to ensure there are no issues at the end of your lease term.

WEST BAY

West Bay has a large number of hotels and residences that offer hotel-style living with home comforts.

Apartments which are centrally located, convenient, furnished and takes the hassle out of everyday living such as gym, laundry, room service and cleaning services.
We would love to hear your tips on finding a home in Qatar in the comments below!