Аренда и продажа элитной жилой и коммерческой недвижимости Санкт-Петербург, Россия
Palvelut
ELIITTIASUNNOT VUOKRALLE
ASUNTOJEN MYYNTI

F.A.Q.

12.09.2011 Foreign tenants. Specifics, differences, recommendations.

Many landlords of elite apartments in Saint-Petersburg prefer to have as a tenant a foreign specialist employed by large western company for a long-term contract. Advantages of the corporate client are apparent – long-term lease, stable income, serious and reliable tenant committed to his obligations under contract, low risks of damage to the apartment, careful usage of the apartment, additional guarantees, given by the company-employer, prospects of further cooperation with corporate segment, references from the company allowing to speed up the process of apartment leasing in future.

But how to get a foreign tenant interested in your apartment? How to turn your apartment into a competitive product and present it efficiently to the potential tenant? What should be taken into consideration during the viewing and how to build an efficient communication with a tenant throughout the lease? Every nation has its own perception of ideal home and how to live in it, as well as every apartment has its own set of features determining how to decorate it in the most favourable and harmonious way. For instance, if your apartment has high ceiling and original molding it is not worth trying to create ultra modern high-tech interior there, but possible to experiment with exquisite French or Italian style. If you put an effort and try to provide comfortable environment for your tenant you will secure stable and long-term relationships with him and as a result - your guaranteed income.

Having been cooperating with numerous corporate clients for many years Night Sky Realty prepared a short guidance on interior and decoration preferences of foreign tenants from Europe and Asia, their social and cultural peculiarities influencing their way of living and attitude to home, that will help you to attract a foreign tenant and communicate with him efficiently from the first viewing till the moving-out.

Tenants from Germany

Throughout times German interior has been associated with absolute symmetry and ideal completion.

Strong will for rationality is often coupled with a desire for something unusual. Germans appreciate unusual items such as transparent glasses full of flower petals or candles. As a favourite decoration - photo frames with family pictures and porcelain statuettes.

When it comes to furniture – German taste is rather simple. Living room normally has a table surrounded by wooden chairs, and as a must have item for living area – classic set of armchair, coffee table and a floor lamp for reading.

Kitchen is designed in the same old German style. Antique furniture looks very harmonious coupled with modern household appliances. As a small accessory you could find coffee-grinder or old iron.

German house of new generation is characterized in the first place by maximum utilization of area and high functionalism. In case you show your apartment to a German customer draw his attention to highly functional furniture, convenient transport accessibility, good infrastructure, etc.

Germans are rather conservative and show little trust to innovations. Their prefer something they are accustomed to, something reputable and having positive references. If you are showing your apartment to a German client mention a good reference letter from a previous tenant or positive experience with another German person who used to live in the apartment – that might play a very important role when taking a decision.

Everyone is aware of German punctuality and pedantism. If your tenant happens to be German – you are lucky! Throughout the lease your tenant will not cause you any trouble and will strictly follow the instructions given.

Tenants from France

Traditional French charm is shining through in every detail. French house is considered to be a rich collection of dressing tables, flower stands and jardinières. Interior is often decorated with lamps with old shades and mirrors.

As for the colour range – traditional French interior is considered to be rather exquisite but strict. It creates ideal proportions and produces harmonious solutions.

French décor is represented by a wide range of patterns, often – flower themed.

An absolute winner for home decoration is ceramics and glass dinnerware, a must have for the French rooms – paintings. Small and large, bright and moderate they are a perfect wall décor and a theme focus.

When visiting and choosing the appropriate apartment the French pay attention to the esthetics side of potential home. They value not only practical features of the environment but also thought out details and décor elements. If you worked in that direction you will definitely get a response in a French client, it is crucially important for French person to always remain a true French be it in France or abroad.

French tenant could be rather demanding when it comes to the quality of service provided and functionality of all systems in the apartment, but also set equally high demands to himself – everything must be соттеil faut. French people respect privacy of other people and strictly pursue good manners.

Tenants from Italy

Italian interior is the most rich and versatile largely due to the fact that every Italian considers it to be his obligation to spend a lot of money on his private space. Extravagant accessories are indelible part of every Italian home. This could be a colourfull red armchair or small lacquered table made of red wood. Colour and shades game is an important component of Italian style. Permanent experiments have led, for example, to the frequent use of mat glass and metal.

Italian design keeps producing new trends; therefore it will be cutting edge to have one or two fashionable items. Large closet, unusual lamp or painting will look very extravagantly in the apartment.

Being true esthetes and trend setters in design matters when Italians come to long and cold Saint-Petersburg winters they pay a lot of attention to the heat insulation of the apartment. Floor heating system, extra radiators in the apartment are much more topical for Italians than air-conditioning and ventilation.

Tenants from England

Englishmen are known all over the world as very conservative nation. Their conservative preferences dominate in every sphere including the art of interior decoration.

The walls are prim and esthetic. Embroidered paintings, orders and decorations of the owners and their ancestors, clay plates and statuettes make a cosy and English-like noble environment.

It is easy to spot a love for colonial style in English home. In English dining room you will always find spacious sideboard and a one-leg table, Victorian armchairs, high chairs and even sofas. In the middle of the English kitchen an old high table with drawers made of pine wood is situated.

Colour spectrum is traditionally dull and as the whole interior moderate. Creamy, grey and pale-yellow colours are accompanied by unpainted wood.

Young Englishmen prefer today trendy loft style. But despite influences of various new waves it is always time and place to be a little conservative.

Englishmen have a special attitude to home. It is not by accident that almost every house in England has a name, which causes inconveniences for the guests and postmen, but shows a very personal and careful approach of Englishmen to their homes.

House and garden takes a major place in a life of Englishman. Gardening is actually a national sport in England. If your apartment has a balcony or terrace – decorate it with plants in pots which will definitely single out your apartment in the eyes of Englishmen.

Tenants from USA

American interior – is first and foremost a versatile and cosmopolitan world.

Lay out of the American apartment is free and open-plan. Doors between the rooms are missing, and the hall between the kitchen, dining room and living room form is a common space organized as a smooth path from one room to another.

Kitchen is equipped with all modern household appliances and built-in closets; furniture is arranged in П-shape. Living area as a rule is singed out by lower floor level (one step).

Large furniture items are placed in the centre of the rooms and smaller items – along the walls. This is so a called layer structure which if applied carefully looks very advantageous.

American interior is highly prone to new trends and could combine old and new ideas, producing rather original concept; classic goes hand in hand with modern; fine baroque could be easily surrounded by high-tech elements.

Like America itself apartment interior favoured by Americans could be rather cosmopolitan and versatile. But when it comes to additional options such as parking, it is better to pay extra attention. Average American family has 1,8 car. If an American needs to get to a place in walking distance he would not walk but will drive a car. If you show your apartment to American client do not fail to mention all available parking solutions (closed courtyard with remote control gates, secured parking, garage, underground parking).

Tenants from Japan

Japanese interior is first of all delicate esthetic minimalism based on as few items as possible, each one of them having a deep meaning though. Due to a permanent lack of land, Japanese culture has always used miniature forms, and limited natural resources have led to minimizing and fining of interiors. Great autonomy from another cultures formed rather specific and unique Japanese interior styles. As basic materials paper, silk and bamboo are used most often.

Straight lines and right angles are essential features of Japanese interior. Fanciful hieroglyphs and fabrics adorned with smooth patterns give it a delicate and fine touch. Japanese furniture is characterized by unruffled surfaces, rather low tables and chairs. Often the Japanese just seat on the floor before the table.

Conservative colour palette coupled with minimalistic furniture highlights emptiness of Japanese interior. Walls are often very light and the furniture pieces are made of dark wood. It is believed that the Japanese can distinguish between rare colour shades better than other nations. They use nature colours: pink as sakura or blue as sea wave. This is why one could sometimes see colour combinations rather unusual for European eye. A favourite mix is blue and green or orange and violet.

Japanese materials have always admired European mind. Delicately adorned with flowered pattern fabrics or traditional Japanese silk are widely used for screens and curtains, cushions and covers.

Night Sky Realty specialists have marked one peculiarity of Japanese top-managers arriving to St-Petersburg for a long-term assignment. Despite strong minimalism traditions in Japan, they tend to choose apartments decorated in classic, palace-like style, so unusual for Japan. This style is defined by high ceilings, spacious rooms, chandeliers, bright décor. The problem of land shortage in Japan is still topical today, therefore, coming to Russia with its huge territories and “gigantomania”, the Japanese step back from their national minimalistic style and go for something exotic.

The process of apartment selection and negotiations of all practical matters regarding the contract and further living in the apartment takes a lot of time with Japanese client. They prefer to discuss and define all nuances before entering any business relationships with landlord. This practice is based on Japanese cultural tradition and has its own advantages. Having a detailed picture of all possible force-major circumstances your Japanese tenant will never disturb you without a serious reason throughout tenancy.