Opportunity Knocks!

The buzzer rang like a contestant on a game show with the right answer.  I have never been so nervous in my life!  Nathalie emerged out of the dimly lit entryway.  She is a tall and slender attractive woman in her early 40s.   She welcomed us with a polite quiet smile and led us to the second floor apartment via the tiny three-person elevator. Nathalie's sweet and straightforward disposition instantly put us both at ease, but we relentlessly pursued our goal.  After all, this was our last resort!  

When we arrived to Belgium we had no idea about all the challenges that come with renting an apartment! First, it is standard practice to sign a lease for three years here and it is common to give three months notice when you plan on moving out. We found that relaters wouldn't even consider working with us, as our plan was to find a place for only 3 months. Second, once you sign your lease you are obligated to open a joint savings account with the landlord. To open an account with the bank you need an appointment which sometimes get booked weeks in advance! Third, the listed monthly cost does not include additional apartment complex fees. Finally, to rent furniture for unfurnished apartments it's about the same price as your monthly apartment rent. Very expensive!!

A view of our apartment taken from the Gravensteen Castle

The apartment was flooded with natural light and its layout was perfect! The spacious living room and "study" ;) had four large windows overlooking a beautiful canal to the right and the Gravensteen Castle to the left. I thought that the "study" was considered the second bedroom referenced in the ad, but no... there were two large bedrooms as well!! We couldn't have been more shocked and spell bound by this place! Aside from the fact that it was "perfect" the building had a unique history. The building itself looked very atypical to the surrounding traditional Flemish buildings, which Nathalie told us, was because the building had been rebuilt in the fifties after the Germans bombed the original structure.

There was no need for charming Nathalie.  She was already charmed and we were just as charmed with her.  If we had been trying to get a break on the rent or a deal, it would have been a lost cause because I was gushing, grinning from ear to ear and quite possibly said "beautiful," "amazing," and "perfect" fifty times!  I was talking so much that Ryan couldn't get a word in edgewise. I don't know if Nathalie was in a dire situation and needed to rent out the apartment yesterday, but she never broke her smile!!! 

Nathalie invited us up to her apartment for tea and we chatted for a while.  She mentioned that we would bring life to the building and gave us the contract with just one condition.  We would need to sign a lease for a minimum of six months (rather then three).  As we glanced out at her view, which was about to become our view, we didn't hesitate in accepting.  Grinning ear to ear we left with the papers in hand and high-fived our way all the way back to the train station.  

We took it!  It couldn't have been a more serendipitous day!