Moving To South Delhi

dillichaat

This is the gora-tax! If you're a foreigner almost everyone will assume that you have heaps of money (and to be fair, compared to the average Indian citizen this is the case) and overcharge you for most things. It's just the way things are. Just try to make sure that everything with that apartment is the way they describe it, that's really, really important. Full backup with a generator is what you need. I wouldn't recommend an inverter (basically a stack of batteries) reason: these need power to charge up and having no power during 6 or 7 hours per day is not an exception in some parts of Delhi during the hot season. An inverter won't help you then and unless you buy a really big one, you can't run ac from it during extended periods of time.

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namaste_cat

Gora is the Hindi word for fair; in this context, "white". As a non-resident Indian, I get charged a premium too, not sure I can attribute that to my being fair-skinned, More that people think/assume I can afford to pay more.

That makes sense it would cost more, also the needs given your mom's situation. Biggest hurdle generally speaking is negotiating from afar Do you have any local contacts who can do this on your behalf?

You asked in your original post about electricity; we discussed it here a bit:
How much does it cost to run AC in India?

All the best to you and your family.

KABAARY

Okay done ! But let's not make it too easy for you. Why don't you go against the grain and make a post here overflowing with milk and honey and then I'll bite. I await such a post of yours with bated breath while sipping my drinks which, I suspect, shall be gripe water.

In case you don't get a good deal, are you willing to consider entering into a short time arrangement and then looking around for a better deal once you are here on the ground so to say or would that be too much of a bother given the circumstances ? Rs. 110,000 per month really is absolutely criminal !

dillichaat

As your discerning eye undoubtably detected, milk and honey are not your humble servants' favorite foodstuffs Ah, the things one has to do in service of mammon. But I still think the apartment could be rented out for more in that area.

I agree that a better deal could be had if someone looked everything over and negotiated on the OP's behalf or if he could come here say, 3 weeks ahead and look/negotiate himself but it has to be possible give the situation.. Guess it'd shave 20-30k off the price. One advantage is that, if you arrive in january, expat moving season is far gone so the owner knows that if he doesn't close a deal then he won't be able to get that juicy contract with a foreigner most of them are angling for until august-september 2010.

Yes, unfortunately if they smell a whiff of foreign air you'll end up paying more, never mind if you're ethnically a local. 2 weeks ago I was walking around in old delhi and saw 2 Indians walking angrily away from a vendor. I entered the shop and heard them talking about "those 2 -expletive- nariyals". Nariyal=coconut. After a while I started talking with them to practice my hindi and asked them about the nariyal thing. They replied that to them, Indians living abroad are like coconuts: brown on the outside, white on the inside. Read: they're exploitable just like any other foreigner. It's not the first time I heard this coconut comparison either.

LilBoy BigTown

And how may I ask they find out if you live locally or are an NRI? I don't think any one going shopping would voluntarily dish out this information to the shopkeeper.

namaste_cat

dillichaat - had not heard the nariyal thing, it's like calling a black person Oreo.
True, I certainly don't volunteer any info. But they can just tell. In some cases, it's the grooming, clothing, accent, etc. Course with places where one has to show ID -- hotels, rentals, and places like that, they don't have to guess.

dillichaat

As namaste_cat said, they just know. Most times even before the persons concerned open their mouth. It's in the clothes, the body language....a thousand little things that are different and scream out 'not local'.

I've many times seen how at monuments ethnic Indians still had to pay the foreign tourist tariff. You see them asking for their tickets in -to my ears accentless- Hindi, then the guy at the other side will take a hard look and ask for proof of residence and there they go, 20 Rs just turned into 250.

ronsaik

Rent for the DDA flats in VK would be ~20K.
For builder floors and independent houses, the rent will be higher.
For a large, say 4-BR independent house, a rent of 110,000 would still be high - I would expect 60-70 K to be closer to the mark.

EDIT: You can check out rentals on 99acres.com, then mentally shave off 25% from whatever is being quoted there.
EDIT #2: If the place is fully furnished (not including electronics) - say 2 lac. With even a 50% ROI, that's only another 9K a month.

80-85 K should be the walkaway point.

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KABAARY

Really ?! Well, you could knock me down with a feather ! I would never have guessed of you so till you posted thus. So what's your favourite ? Sour Grapes for breakfast ?

It's all very fine to give people a reality check but let's not go over the top on that....when I say that, I'm talking of the other side of the coin also as in sugary sweet stuff on India being posted.

dillichaat

Kabaary, I'm sorry if I puncture your ideal India bubble and endanger your gig at the ministry of propaganda but everything I write is founded in fact and I try to be quite balanced in the opinions I express on IM. It's very simple: the extreme negativists on India won't bother to come close to a forum such as this and the extreme positivists could do with a dose of reality, which is what I try to provide.

If you want to slug it out further -in a civilized way- kindly do so via pm, don't want to screw up the thread.

BTW: Breakfast this morning was a blueberry bagel, fresh orange juice and strong maragogype coffee. You're right about the grapes, the local ones (imported from Thailand I suppose) are way too sour.

Khans

I had some expat friends, and went for house hunt with them. we covered areas around Vasant vihar and GK, we dropped the later due to traffic issues.
Three bedroom accommodation was coming around 40-50k per month for one year contract. But that was three years back. If you take all the inflation into account, 80k should be max. Electricity meter (inflated bills)woes are common, but should be restricted under 10k on the upper edge depending on the usage.
I didnt find any mention of the hospital (am sorry if i missed it) you will be visiting, take into account shuffling between home and hospital.

vkochar

One brave step you guys are taking to move to delhi with your mother in that condition. I wish you all the best and speedy recovery to your mother.

I am sure you have mentioned all the facts and your status to your would be landlord.

Shanti Kunj is a posh area near Vasant kunj and is famous for expats / service apartments.

Your quoted rent for 110000 rs seems to be fine if it is a fully furnished flat / service aprtment with help.

Renting flats to foreigners for small periods like a year is never cheap. Its almost 50 % more expensive than letting it out to local's due to the short time span and also the upkeep and mantainance increases when letting it out to a foreigner. The risks are also higher.

Banks - there are plenty - Citibank / ABN Amro would be a good choice and cheap for transfers.

Mobile / Broadband - AIRTEL all the way. Check out the plans on offer at www.airtel.in

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Aussie-Roger

Well we did it! We are now in India!!! living in Shanti Kunj near Vasant Kunj. What a place... how can anyone drive here and not crash is amazing!

We found a nice place and currently just setting everything up.. I cant get broadband where I am... which is not good.. I just signed up for photon wireless today.. just to have the internet until the lines for airtel are in the area. Not happy about that!!! this is slow wireless!! not like australian 3G network!

I have been doing shopping in Vasant Square.. the Big Bazzar... hard to get around cause we have no car and getting the little guys on bikes is not too bad but still a mission at times.. i think cause i am in austrlian board shorts and look a white man its harder.. they do try rip you off but i like to bargain hahah i just walk away and they drop the price.. is there any other good shopping centres around my area.. just looking for small things like a can opener and big chopping board.. the big bazzar has alot but not that!!! even plates etc... their designs are soo old.. is there any modern type cups etc i could get and large stuff.. everything here is mini! pots pans.. its all half the size!! crazy.. can't wait for our sea container to arrive.. i think i packed a wok etc so should be good..

I need to learn the lingo big time!!! anyways thanks everyone for all their help.. I will def be on here a bit more and possibly meet some of you once everything is sorted and I can go out on the town.. if there is a good nightlife that is...

Katkoeta

Drive to Vasant Vihar - Basant Lok shopping area. (next to Vasant Continental Hotel) It's not far away from your place at all. There you have the supermarkets Le Marche and and on the other side Modern Bazaar. (the latter is a bit cheaper)
Both well stocked for India concerned; lots of imported stuff, frsh meats and cheeses etc.
Besides this there is also a cinema, clothes stores, coffee shops, restaurants, pharmacy, etc etc. And regarding kitchen and home items; right next to Le Marche (right side) there is a big store (3 floors and basement) where you can find all that!
Good luck!

trooooon

The little guys on bikes are auto rickshaws I'm guessing!!

Basant lok or Priya is definitely your best bet . . . you get pretty much everything there . . . maybe you should start calling cabs . . . there is a local stand right on the main road or you could call some radio cabs (which there are plenty of) far less hassle though a bit more expensive!

All the best for your mom's treatment . . .

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