HOMELiving
At Home
Renting furnitureFor a lease shorter than the furniture pays backA two-year posting rarely justifies buying a sofa. Who rents furniture by the month in Shanghai, what a package typically covers, how delivery and pickup work at the end of a lease, and the deposit terms that catch people out.All corridors
Buying furnitureIKEA, the Yiwu-style markets, and what ships to a compoundWhere people actually buy: the IKEA stores and their delivery windows, the furniture markets worth the trip, online with English-capable sellers, and the practical constraint nobody mentions — lift dimensions and whether the compound allows deliveries at the weekend.All corridors
Appliances that matter hereDryers, dishwashers, water filters, air purifiersFour appliances that are standard back home and often missing here. What to check at the viewing, what a landlord will usually add if you ask before signing, and what you end up buying yourself.All corridors
Moving inInternational shipping, local movers, compound rulesThe international shipment and the local move are different problems. Customs on a household shipment, movers who work in English, and the compound-side rules that decide your move-in day — lift booking, permitted hours, and the deposit some estates hold against damage.All corridors- Furnishing & plantsFurniture rental, a dryer at the viewing, broadbandMost Shanghai leases come unfurnished. Rent the bed. Ask about a dryer at the viewing — washers are common, dryers are not. Broadband is a separate contract from the meters. IKEA fills tables; Western mattresses still fail.All corridors
- Ayi & household helpIn the first-30-days guideAll corridors
- PetsImport, vets, pet-friendly buildingsAll corridors
Useful resources for settling in
Moving and home finding: check what is included
Crown’s Shanghai office page lists packing, shipping, storage and home finding among its services. If your employer has assigned a relocation provider, use its service description to check which parts of the move are covered.
Ask who handles the housing search, arrival orientation and shipment, and which items require a separate quotation.
Water and air equipment in a rented home
Greenwave advertises home visits, water testing and purifier rental in Shanghai, including rented apartments. Its FAQ says some installations can avoid permanent plumbing changes. The suitable installation still depends on the apartment.
Agree with the landlord on installation, filter replacement, removal and restoration costs before ordering.
Greenwave China · Services ↗Source checked ·
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