International Law

Annual tradition

By Stan

Once again, probably for something like the 426th time in the past 10 years, I am enjoying the process of looking for and renting an apartment here in Beijing.

The search was relatively painless this year, although prices are certainly higher. As usual, unfortunately, the negotiation with the landlord and the broker is (as of this moment) taking foreever (2 1/2 hours and counting).

You gotta love bureaucracy. I’ve hidden myself off in a corner temporarily as my wife proceeds with the bargaining over minutiae. I’m not much of a haggler.

I’m praying for deliverance here — even a natural disaster would be welcome at this point.

The only thing keeping me sane at this point is my iPhone and this Wordpress plugin. At least I have something to keep myself occupied with so my brain doesn’t liquify and run out my ears. I don’t think my new landlord would like that.

Update: half hour later, little progress made. I’m wondering if the light fixture above my head would support my weight — if only I had some rope and had noose-tying skills.

This rental agent doesn’t seem to realize that waiting until 9:00 at night to fill out a long-form rental agreement (three original copies written longhand) is not the most efficient way to do business.

20 minutes later: just signed the rental agreement. I’m going to take that as a sign of progress. Perhaps after ten minutes of arguing about what sort of contact information we are required to disclose, the parties involved are getting tired.

Five minutes later: heated discussion about the appropriate language for a (handwritten) receipt for the deposit. The phrase “reinventing the wheel” needs to be tattooed on the forehead of this rental agent as a reminder.

Success! I think I’ve set up Joint Ventures faster than this, but at least it’s finally over, at least for another 12 months.

Full post as published by China Hearsay on August 16, 2008 (boomark / email).