Other notes about the apartment

1.

Delivery for new furniture takes a lot longer than we are accustomed to in the U.S. Six to eight weeks is common, and many of us have heard stories about deliveries taking up to four months or longer! Some large furniture stores such as Weko (in Eggenfelden) or Hiendl (in Neuötting) have items that can be bought and taken home directly from the store. Stock availability for furniture which is available to take with you is usually better in the fall, and delivery times over the summer vacation period can stretch out for 10 weeks or more. Be sure to ask about delivery times when you're shopping around!

2.

If you are not placed in a company- owned apartment, you may have to find a house or apartment yourself. Have a friend help you to read the ads in the paper. The Saturday paper is best. You will typically be expected to pay up to three months rent (Kaution) as a security deposit. Security deposits go into special escrow accounts and do earn some interest. Your employer might help you by signing a Bankbürgschaft which is essentially a promissory note.

3.

TV/Radios need to be registered and fees will be collected when you move in. Be sure to obtain a form from the appliance store when you make a purchase. The completed form should be sent in to the Gebühreneinzugszentrale. The governmental department with responsibility for the registration fees (GZ) actually might come knock on your door and ask to inspect your apartment if you haven't filled out the proper paperwork!

4.

Electrical installations, such as lighting, may be difficult or impossible to install on your own. If you are only here for a short time you will probably want to buy rather inexpensive lamps - there are attractive lamps available at very reasonable prices. The Europeans make much greater use of halogen lamps. These lamps are very bright, attractive, and have built in transformers. If you want to take them back with you to the U.S., keep in mind that the transformers within these lighting fixtures would have to be replaced and this may not be possible.

5.

If your apartment has carpeting, you're one of the lucky ones. Apartments usually have PVC flooring and the tenants have to buy area or wall-to-wall rugs themselves. Nicer places may have tile or wood floors, but even in apartments tenants often install carpeting or flooring themselves. Be sure to check with your landlord for cleaning instructions if your apartment has a 'fake hardwood' (Parquet floor - some of these floors must be washed with a bare minimum of water to prevent damage.

6.

If your employer is not providing you with a furnished apartment, you will have to buy wardrobes (Schränke), cabinets, and bookshelves, because European homes do not usually have them built in. The styles to choose from are endless. The cheaper ones contain no wood. Others have only a wood veneer (Holz furniert) and the best quality ones have solid wood panels (Holz massiv). You might want to consider checking in an antique store (there is a great one in Altötting on Neuöttinger Str. which is not too pricey) for an antique Bavarian farmhouse-style wardrobe or cabinet if you've got the budget and space available.

7.

You will probably need to buy your own window dressings. Most things have to be custom-made and can be very expensive; Walmart in Mühldorf sells ready-made American-style shears and curtains, if you're lucky enough to have standard -sized windows. The fabric styles and colors available are in large part different from what you'd typically find in the U.S. One source for a large variety of fabrics, panels, and ideas is the carpet and drapery store next to Enzinger in Neuötting. You can also find draperies and window coverings at Schultheiss in Burghausen.

8.

Your heat will most likely be by steam radiators. The meters on the radiators contain a liquid that evaporates at a constant rate at high temperatures. Similarly, the plumbing fixtures in the kitchen and the bathroom will have meters for hot and cold water. Once per year, the landlord will read these meters (Jahresablesung) and perform an annual reckoning (Jahresabrechnung). You will either pay him the difference between the actual usage and what he has charged you as an estimate for heat and water (Nebenkosten) or he will pay you money back. Don't be surprised if three months go by between the Jahresablesung and the notice from the landlord regarding the reckoning. Your Nebenkosten typically also includes some kind of garbage removal service.

9.

Dumpsters here are about half the size of a typical one in the U.S. and they are emptied only once every two weeks. Therefore, you must learn the fine art of recycling nearly everything. Every town has a recycling center (Wertstoffhof) and they take everything from yard refuse (usually for an extra fee), to old bread, used deep-fryer fat and dead washing machines. The one in Burghausen is closed on Mondays and opened til noon on Saturdays. Most communities here, including Burghausen, also have curbside pick-up of plastic/tin (Gelbesack) and paper (Blautonne) recycling now; if your community doesn't, then these items must be brought to the recycling center.

10.

If you are not in company-provided housing, you will have to negotiate your own deals with the an electric company (you get to choose - Yello often has the cheapest rates) and a phone company. This can be daunting, as there are many options available. Your cell phone from the U.S. will most likely not work here so you may want to sign up with a plan that includes all your telephone needs. DSL internet service is available in Burghausen and some of the surrounding area.

11.

Cable TV costs about 10 a month and you get many channels. For no extra charge, you even get a French and a Turkish station! CNN is currently the only channel broadcast in English. Depending on where you live, a satellite dish may not get you (m)any more English-speaking channels ...but you may opt for one anyway. Prices are reasonable.

12.

If you are renting, check with your landlord before attempting to make any improvements to your house such as installing a satellite dish, drilling holes in the walls or even hanging curtains. They will especially not like you drilling holes in their window frames but other options are available (plastic window fixtures, spring-loaded dowels, etc.).

13.

As stated above, radiator heating is most common. Rooms can therefore get a bit stuffy so you'll want to open your windows occasionally to air the rooms. Each room (including the foyer, living room, and kitchen) usually has a door so you can avoid drafts and control the heating in each room separately.

14.

Windows in Germany open in two ways - either wide open or tipped forward on a bottom hinge - so you can control the amount of air coming in. Note that because of this construction the windows here often have no screens. Depending on the way the window opens, it is possible to buy and install a ``do it yourself'' screen. If you don't install screens, please note that during bug season you have to keep the windows closed if the lights are on in the evening. For the most part, if your lights are off you can keep the windows open ...but if you have the windows open when the lights are on, plan on being carried away by mosquitoes!

15.

Winters can be cold, wet, and snowy. Being so close to the Alps, the towns and people are very well prepared for the snow here. They salt the roads and you will have high-performance snow tires for your car. If you live in a row, double- or single-family house you are responsible for clearing the sidewalk of snow each time it snows. You can be held liable if someone is injured on your sidewalk or driveway.

16.

Summers are not particularly long and normally not extremely hot, but it can be quite humid. Air conditioning is non-existent so bring or buy fans.

17.

You should expect the apartment or house to have been painted by the last occupant. They are not responsible for cleaning the carpets.

18.

Beware: Most rental contracts have a clause which states that you must paint all the walls white when you move out (or pay to have it done). You are free to paint the walls whatever color you like (at your own cost) while you live in the apartment, but when you move out all the walls must be freshly painted in pristine white - or you'll probably lose a good portion of your security deposit!