Moving to Chennai in Sept '09

monica25

Hello all. I'm moving to Chennai at the end of this summer from California. I'm originally from India, but have grown up in the States. I'll be working for a US-based non-profit in Alwarpet & will be getting a salary of 75K per month. I'd love some help and advice on housing, packing, moving about, expenses, or any other tips. I've traveled in India a bit & have lived there for a couple of years after college, so I'm prepared for Chennai. I think! I have heard the hot-hotter-hottest joke one too many times, though.

1) As a single woman, I want to live nearby work in a safe area, preferrably in a high-rise / flat. Any neighborhoods that you may recommend? Can I afford to live in Alwarpet? My company will provide the 10-month rental deposit that I keep reading about.

2) I would prefer not to commute. Is it better to be in a central city location or near the beach?

3) Is it better to go with furnished apt or unfurnished? How much does furniture cost in India -- any places to get reasonably priced items or is it all the fancy items I'm seeing online at Fabindia (fancy by my standards)? I'm arriving with nothing other than my clothes and personal belongings. But the few furnished flats I've looked at are okay.

4) Are there any items I should absolutely bring from the states? I'm fairly flexible, but would like to bring items that may not be available.

I'd greatly appreciate all the help I can get. I've found this forum to be very useful.

Thanks!!
Moni

p.s. I accidentally posted this earlier in another part of IndiaMike (travel area) -- sorry for the duplicate!

Nick-H

75K/month is a very good salary, especially for a lone single person. You probably can afford to live in Alwarpet, although if you have a modern place it will take quite a chunk of your income.

There are very, very nice residential streets in Alwarpet and adjoining areas; you should be able to live close to your work.

We have members more familiar with dy-to-day rent levels, maybe a better answer will come.

Many of your other questions, and perhaps some you haven't even asked yet, are answered in other threads in this section: do spend a few hours browsing, it is an invaluable source of information. Either Chennai is very popular with expats, or IndiaMike is very popular with Chennai-bound expats, I don't know --- but we seem to get several joining us every week!

gaurav1441

It is purely a Personal Choice.

A furnished flat is better you you plan to stay for less than six months. But if you intend to stay more you can think of buying household stuff yourself.

Nick-H

General advice: Do check out Google Maps, MapMyIndia, Wikkimapia and Google Earth.

You might have done so already, but a lot of people ask about districts and distances, when a map speaks many, many words!

monica25

Hello Nick,
Thanks for your response -- I was hoping you would chime in -- you are so helpful to so many inquiries on this forum!

I have gotten an idea by browsing other threads & google map has been great at helping me figure out the lay of the land--thanks for the great suggestions! I think my office is actually located on cenotaph road in Teynampet, not Alwarpet, as originally thought. Does Teynampet have residential neighborhoods?

Also, is it reasonable to think I can find a 2BHK for Rs.15,000-20,000 in this area? My company will provide me with a serviced apartment for 15 days during which time I'll be given the opportunity to look for a rental.

gaurav1441

You need not worry a bit then. 15 days is a reasonable amount of time to search for a place here.

Raghu.Kumar

Hi Monica,

Welcome to Chennai. Over the past few months, there have been lot of queries seeking info on settling down in Chennai and I am sure they would benefit you.

Cenotoph Road Starts from Alwarpet and ends in Teynampet. So it doesn't make any difference. Teynapet is typically a business district, whereas Alwarpet is a combination of both Commercial and Residential.

There are good residential areas in and around your office location. Just to name a few Raja Anna Malaipuram ( R.A.Puram ) Abiramapuram, Alwarpet, Kottupuram/Kottur Gardens . All these places are about 5 to 10 minutes travel.

Just go thro the below link for you to have an idea of the topography of Chennai City. though you wont find Alwarpet ot Teynampet in the map, you can see Abiramapuram, Kotturpuram. As you dont want to commute much, living closer to the beach may not be a feasible option for you.

http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/tn/h3s2907.htm

You can get an apartment for the rental range you mentioned and 15 days is definitely a possibility to finalise an apartment. However, to be on the safer side request your employer to extend the Temp accommodation by one more week if required so that you dont have any tension later incase the apartment possession gets delayed.

Also check with you company if they would reimburse you brokerage charges for finding an apartment. Most Agents charge about a month's rental. You can also browse through local Classfieds, especially The Hindu, Saturday Property Plus where owners directly advertise, in which case you save money on the commission.

Hope this helps, Raghu

__________________
S.Raghu Kumar
sahana_kumar@yahoo.com

Nick-H

Where Cenotaph Road meets Turnbulls Road (you would turn left for Park Sheraton Hotel) they are building a flyover, which is probably going to go on for some time, especially as I hear there is now some dispute over the land aquisition. Apart from this, It is largely a posh area, and, as Raghu implies, Teynampet and Alwarpet are pretty-much neighbours.

You will not be far away from one of the big Apollo Hospitals --- which might be a comforting thought!

Good localities; easy to get to and from other places too.

monica25

Thank you so much for all the info, everyone.

Nick, if one lives in Alwarpet & works in Teynampet -- is it reasonable to walk around. Often some post parts of Indian cities operate on individuals owning cars, it seems. There aren't always sidewalks / pathways -- what is the case. Hope you don't mind more questions!

Raghu, very good & thorough advice. I don't think my company will cover the agent's fee, but I'm wondering if it is worth it to go with a broker / agent if they are able to get access to a greater variety & decent flats? I'm willing to go with a agent if it is really worth it.

I wonder if there are any persons out there who have experience using a broker -- what was your experience?

monica25

not *post* parts, I mean POSH parts.

Nick-H

Monica, there is, for a limited time, a button on your own posts called EDIT --- it is good both for typos and afterthoughts!


Once you get used to the city you will not a problem with walking. You have to be careful about holes, what you put your feet in, and about walking into things at head hight! You have to be careful about the traffic. You'll notice that, often, people walk on the road even when there is a perfectly good pavement (sidewalk) --- when I'm driving, I find that infuriating!

Most agents and brokers make auto drivers look like angels. If someone like Raghu can put you in touch with one of the better ones that would be amazing. Obviously, if you answer an ad or for something you see on a website, then you are stuck with the broker that landlord is using.

Chennai is one of those all-mixed-up cities: you can find posh houses with a slum street next door. It all adds to our variety --- and interest!

Alwarpet is a very nice area; so long as the whole city does not prove too much culture shock for you, I think you can have a very nice time living there!

sundark

monica hi .. i have an apartment in central chennai-mylapore-not too far from alwarpet. i normally rent the apt to non indians who prefer to stay in a secured place, in a very decent high rise . the apt is furnished( air conditioned) and suits western visitors to india.
if interested respond to sundark@beingpeace.in
best
sundar

monica25

Hi Sundark,

Remember I will not be able to rent until Sept. What is the rent you are charging? Can you share some apt details?

floor? lift?
bedrooms
bathrooms
veranda/balcony?
what is near?

Raghu.Kumar

Hi Monica,

Welcome. Its a pleasure to be of some help. its difficult to say, whethere are brokers are good. They are a mixed lot and sometimes it depends on our luck too. Big agents may not be interested as the rental is not too much and they are also not sure if you would go with them after doing the home search with them.

As you would be coming only in September, do get in touch with us once again closer to the date or even after arrival and we can suggest some options.

Walking in and around the place is quite okay, but as Nick suggested one would need to be careful while walking on the pavements.

you would need to look down for some displaced concrete slabs and also look ahead for the obstructing Electricity Junction Box or the Telephone box, Transformer or a Corporation Dustbin placed. its would be exercise getting up and down on the pavement. You would soon get used to it.

Raghu

praveen307

Hi Monica,

I lived in Chennai for a pretty long period and am familiar with Alwarpet. Its one of the most beautiful localities located centrally in the city.

My thoughts:

1. 75K is a very good salary considering that the cost of living in Chennai is low.

2. Chennai is not hot, though very humid. Even on cloudy days, sweat rolls down if you spend a few minutes outside your home.

3. There are lots of high rise apartments in Alwarpet. You should be able to get good houses for a rent around 15 to 20K.

4. Furnished apartment will cost you 5K to 10K more to the rent, but check the quality of furnishings before you take the house on rent. Your salary should allow you to buy most of the furniture, to give you an idea about the cost.

5. There is nothing thats available in US and not available in India, except a few food ingredients (if you prefer to cook yourself). There are two retails chain stores 'Nilgiris' and 'Spencers' in Alwarpet (CPR Road) which are well stocked.

6. It would be better if you can arrange your own transport - i would suggest you buy a scooter or rent a car. The local transport is not good (especially in Alwarpet) and the autorickshaws are considered as harrasment by any foreign visitor.

7. Teynampet is a typical business district, though you can find good houses around Turn bulls corner.

8. Only one-way traffic is allowed on many roads due to high congestion. So if you are not walking to office, check the road maps for directions.

9. Th Hindu Property Plus, Free Ads newspaper, etc would help you find a home quickly. You can also try magicbricks.com and sulekha.com, though most of the listings are by agents / brokerages.

10. I dont agree with Nick, atleast for the part syaing that you can find posh houses with a slum street next door. That doesnt apply to Alwarpet or nearby areas.

Alwarpet is a very cool place (literally) and there are lots of good restaurants and bakeries where one can hang out with friends for a long time.

Have a nice time at Chennai!

Praveen
praveen307@gmail.com