Moving flats in Hong Kong can be an absolute nightmare. From trying to find your new place via an agent or through Facebook Marketplace, to moving in and making it feel like a home.. it can all be incredibly overwhelming. I’ve lived here for almost 9 years and have only moved twice. The last time being just shy of two months ago and boy, was it a process. If you’re thinking about moving flats in HK, here’s how I found the perfect flat for me and then decorated it (and treated myself to the best night’s sleep thanks to my new Emma Mattress!) to make it feel like home.
How to find your dream flat
Okay, let’s get real. Unless you’re seriously making bank here, you’re going to have to manage those ‘dream flat’ expectations. If you live in Hong Kong, you know that rent costs a small fortune and you’d probably be getting twice the amount of space back in your home city. So, set your frustrations aside and decide on a list of things you absolutely won’t negotiate on.
For me, my non-negotiables were plenty of natural light, staying in a certain neighbourhood, not a far uphill walk from the MTR ’cause lord knows the summer humidity will leave you in a puddle of your own sweat after a few seconds, one separate bedroom (no studio), and within a certain budget.
You want to give yourself enough time to find the perfect home, so you really should start looking at least 4 weeks ahead of time. I began looking a bit earlier and decided that if I did find my ‘dream flat’, that I would be okay to overlap on rent for a few weeks. Giving yourself enough time is important so that you’re able to see a variety of flats available without feeling like you need to settle on something for time’s sake.
While you can walk into any realtor shop around the area you like, I actually found my flat on Facebook. Both Marketplace and a few Facebook groups were great ways to see what’s on the market. The only downside is that it’s basically you doing all the work, yet it’s highly likely you’re still going to have to pay an agent fee.
Treat yourself… to a new Emma Mattress!
I decided to treat myself with a new bed frame and mattress. For the past 8 years I had been sleeping in a double bed, so I finally splurged on a queen size bed in my new flat.. and it was the best decision ever. I had heard about Emma Mattress before from a few friends who absolutely loved their mattresses and said it was the best mattress they have ever slept on, so I obviously had to do a bit more research into the brand. While researching, I was surprised at how many options there were when it came to online mattresses in Hong Kong. As I looked further into Emma Mattress, an internationally reputed German mattress company with over 30 international awards, it was clear that they really stood out from the crowd.
Their ‘bed in a box’ is made in Europe and was shipped to Hong Kong right away. They offer mattresses in many different bed sizes. Along with the mattress I also ordered their probiotic mattress cover, which helps to reduce humidity and allergens, and is also waterproof, and their memory foam pillow which offers the perfect amount of support. The mattress was super easy to roll out onto my bed frame and watch as it slowly expanded from its compact delivery box.
If you’re feeling a bit nervous about purchasing a mattress, no need to worry! Emma Mattress offers a 100 night trial period (and an impressive 15 year warranty), though you probably won’t need it. For those that are extra cautious, you can always pop into one of the mattress shops around Hong Kong (there was one right in my neighbourhood in Sheung Wan) to try it out before you make your purchase.
If you’re in the market for a new mattress or pillow, or are just in need of an upgrade, use code “AbroadDream” upon checkout to receive an additional 3% discount for their 3-year anniversary sale, which can add up to 30% altogether!
Decorating your flat on a budget
Moving to a new flat can be very costly, so I wanted to make sure I saved where I could. My old flat had a very dark wooden theme to my decor, however, this time around I wanted to go white and bright. This meant that the only piece of furniture I would be taking with me was my beloved couch. Because I wanted to save a bit on furniture, I found most of my other pieces secondhand on Facebook Marketplace and Carousell (a Hong Kong-based app where you can buy and sell things). I also had a friend help me order a kitchen island off Taobao to save a bit of money.
Whether you’re on a tight budget or not, the number one thing you probably want is for your new space to feel like home. So, don’t forget to add those little touches of personality to your space. For me, I have a few framed pictures up in my flat of my Home Kong, plenty of plants to add a touch of green, a fully stacked wine rack, and my favourite books on display.
Hopefully these tips will help make the process of finding/moving flats in Hong Kong a little less painful!
