Corporate Contract Apartment in Shibuya w/ Furniture Leasing
At FREA, not only are we a fully bilingual real estate agency, we also provide a range of supplementary services to ensure your transition to Japan is smooth and pleasant. For example, did you know that FREA also offers furniture leasing? Read on for an recap of the complete relocation process with one of our recent clients this month.
First, we work with each client on a personalized level to help them find quality properties in their desired areas before their planned arrival in Japan. Or, in cases where someone is entirely new to Japan and overwhelmed with where to begin, our experienced staff will suggest areas that both fit their desired neighborhood style and complement traveling to their intended workplace. Upon arrival in Japan, we guide them on in-person viewings while providing an overview of the neighborhoods they are considering. We also supply custom area maps detailing nearby train stations as well as supermarkets, drugstores, and other stores providing daily necessities
Our client this time was a transferee of a global corporation, replacing another international staff member from the previous year. She had briefly visited Japan in the past and was fond of Shibuya, a bustling, fashion-oriented hub district in Tokyo. The presence of multiple train lines and a straightforward commute to her workplace also made the location more attractive. Our staff assembled a selection of properties meeting her desired space and condition requirements, and confirmed the availability of each before meeting in person to tour her top choices. As our client spoke only some basic Japanese, she decided on a tower complex that included English-speaking concierge amenities.
We were successful in applying for and securing our client’s selected apartment, and so we moved on to the next step: a hearing session regarding her furnishing leasing needs. Since she would be replacing a previous transferee, some of the leased furniture would be carried over from the current company apartment, such as the flat screen TV and dining table set. The sofa and mattresses would be supplied new (according to her firmness preferences), along with a small vanity table for the bedroom. She was even able to choose the color and texture of curtains to be installed in her new apartment. Throughout this dialogue we maintained a steady correspondence with her company’s HR liaison to ensure that all the furnishing decisions being made were within the approved budget. From a company perspective, the ability to transfer furnishings between apartments neatly eliminates the need to repeatedly lease new furnishings from scratch each time. In addition, companies choosing to utilize FREA’s rental services enjoy discounted prices on replacement furniture, making it a cost-effective option for multiple leasing periods.
We coordinated with the furniture suppliers to have the new furniture pieces delivered and assembled shortly before our client’s scheduled arrival in Japan. Living room and bedroom furniture fully assembled, appliances moved in and set up, curtains installed, even a full cutlery set in the kitchen…all the essential comforts and functionalities of a home prepared neatly in advance so that our clients can start life in their new apartment smoothly right from day one in Japan.
In this case however, because the move-in date overlapped slightly with the other staffer’s move-out, the process was not a single-day endeavor. (The company’s existing furnishings would arrive at a later day.)
During the initial move-in day, we also conducted a thorough walkthrough of the entire apartment and noted any pre-existing minor blemishes—this important step can be a tedious, time-consuming process, but by having it completed beforehand clients are able to simply arrive on move-in day worry free.
Our client arrived directly from the airport in the mid-afternoon, and we accompanied her as she looked over her new apartment, explained the various sets of keys and went over operating instructions for the air conditioners and laundry machine. Utilities (electricity/gas/water) had been registered and were already active, and preparations for Internet installation had been made. Afterwards we headed downstairs to the lobby, where we had scheduled an orientation meeting with the overseeing apartment manager. FREA staff remained on hand to provide interpreting for manager explanations and any potential questions.
On a following date, FREA staff went to the previous company apartment (which just so happened to also be in Shibuya) to coordinate the relocation of furnishings and removal of old furniture. We are also able to handle disposing oversized garbage, which the company staff had requested we arrange for. With the conclusion of furniture transfer and curtain installation, the initial move-in process was complete.
We are warmly wishing our client the best and hope that her yearlong stay in Tokyo, Japan will be an exciting and fulfilling one! FREA is always honored to entrusted with the daunting task of relocation, and we hope to continue to be able to support the start of many more bright living experiences in Japan.