Experiences finding a flatshare (WG) in Berlin

I have been looking on http://www.wg-gesucht.de/ for a flat share. By and large, not one person has responded to my emails (in my tortuously crafted but grammatically correct german).

Is it just that these things get snapped up instantly, or are people not really into replying via email?

Does one really need to go and visit the place in person in order to find a WG?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Anthony

ps. If anyone knows of something I am looking for flatshare place for 2 months July and August. Somewhere around prenzlauer berg. I am in town for an language course so would be great to fiond something where the house language is german. Cheers!

Hello. You are entering a confusing time for WG's. Round about now students are getting ready to move out or figure out what they are going to do next. Looking for a room for two months isn't worth the trouble for most people to do the contracts, registration, bank account and the likes. Appearing in person is vital as it's not a hotel or hostel system.

Better to ask for a chance to meet up in your application and be a little charming by doing your e-mail in English and German with a joke about being in Germany to learn, and asking if you can call them. Best of luck.

Would you need to enter into all of the contract /bank account setup stuff if you were just subletting someone's room?

I would have thought it might be a little less formal, but I could be wrong?!?...

Ant

Be persistant. I got one on my 2nd day in Berlin, guess i was just lucky.

The slight problem Ant is something little thought about in the UK Liability insurance (Wikipedia)

You need to have that to even sublet someone's room. Why? Well if you flood the bath or go on fire or the likes then it has to be covered. You need to get registered and the likes to get it unless you get very very lucky.

I know a guy who didn't have it and he fell asleep with the bath running flooding the Leather Goods shop that was below on a Sunday. Today he is 50,000 minus as a result.

I found a place in 2007 for a month using that website. Someone emailed me translated instructions. I'll dig them out and send them to u in a minute.

I'm in a nice flat for a month now and found this one Craig's List Berlin.

Good luck...u need to persist and something will come up.

Just sent those instructions but it says nowt is in my sent items. Hope u got it.

I also know a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy that went to the moon... Anyway, don't scare the guy.

You should register as living somewhere, but that's step C. You're at step A. I've been currently looking for a flat as well. Same kind of conditions (dates, etc). Now is the easiest time of the year to find a flat, because people sublet their rooms for the summer break, where many people take off and go somewhere.

Remember you're not trying to impress somebody's grandma with your crap german. Basically everyone speaks english in Berlin. Just write in English, say you're learning german, and hope you can speak entirely in German unless there are words you don't know or if their patience is running thin at that moment. It takes a lot of patience to carry on a conversation with someone who barely speaks german.

There really are tons of places available at wg-gesucht.de or studenten-wg.de . I suggest you keep playing around with the search criteria until something pops up. If you want something cheap in Prenzlauer Berg, that might have been the fatal flaw - doesn't happen too often. I've seen people trying to rent closets for €300 a month.

Good luck!

No it's really basic and costs 80 € a year but can open doors so to speak.

Thanks for all your suggestions and comments. Really helpful.

I will try not to take too many baths... ;-)

it IS hard to find a room in a WG around Prenzlauer Berg. WGs in the attractive districts get up to 100 mails or phone calls after offering a free room.
It is always best to: phone and visit the WG.
Be also sure to insert an ad at studenten-wg.de/wg-gesucht.de, sometimes this will get you a room faster.

It took me a few weeks to find a room using the websites mentioned above. I only contacted people by email but sent at least 10 a day to different ads. It's pretty important to visit the flat as most people want to meet who they are going to be living with. Usually there a few people being interviewed for the same room so you have to make a good first impression.

Q.I have been looking on http://www.wg-gesucht.de/ for a flat share. By and large, not one person has responded to my emails (in my tortuously crafted but grammatically correct german).
Is it just that these things get snapped up instantly, or are people not really into replying via email?

A.no- if a phone number is there, phone it and make an appointment for asap, they will usually get plenty of calls and jsut not bother replying to emails.
it would help to write a bit about yourself too.
best of luck!