House Hunters International

Due to many requests, we looked into doing House Hunters International (HHI).  We submitted a tryout video before we left Omaha, and had an open dialogue going with a gal at House Hunters in London.  We were approved and we were planning dates before we left for Asia.  When we returned the gal no longer worked for HHI and we have not heard anything from them.  As a cancellation I’m going to do a little HHI of my own.  These are our four finalists.  Guess which one we picked! Vote on the right side of screen.

Apartment #1

$2,275 a month

624 SF

1 Bedroom

1 Bathroom

Listing

“Luxury and total renovated 2-room corner apartment (58 m²), which is tastefully furnished and decorated, located in the Jordan in the city centre of Amsterdam. The apartment is renovated at a high level of quality and has double-glazing, a fully equipped kitchen and modern sanitary facilities. Everything in this apartment is brand new.

LAY OUT
Nice central entrance
The entrance to this apartment is on the second floor. The living and dining room are at the front side. Prominent are the many windows, which guarantee a maximum access of daylight and a beautiful view. At the front side is also a balcony, so you can enjoy the sun and the atmosphere of this lovely neighborhood. The luxury and modern kitchen has a dishwasher, refrigerator with freeze, combi-microwave, ceramic hob and a cooker hood. There’s a wall-hung closet with hand basin. There’s one bedroom, with a double bed. The modern bathroom has a bath, shower en basin.

LOCATION
The apartment is located in the Jordaan, a famous neighborhood in the city centre of Amsterdam. Restaurants, shops and bars are on walking distance. At the end of the street are tram and bus stops. Central Station is also nearby.”

Our Take

Great neighborhood, with lots of young professionals and artists.    Lots of windows looking out onto an active street, makes the apartment feel a lot bigger then 624sf, including small balcony.  Furnishing looks nice, though not of the best quality.  The apartment is right above a very popular drinking hole, which could be nice, but also loud.

Apartment #2

$2,535 a month

1,033 SF

2 Bedroom

2 Bathroom

Listing

“Very nice and tastefully FURNISHED 3-room CORNER apartment (96 m2) with high ceilings and a sunny balcony, located on the edge of the Vondelpark and overlooking the Vondelchurch. The trendy P.C. Hooftstraat and the Overtoom are within walking distance.

Layout:
Entrance on the 1st floor.  Hallway with toilet and glazed French doors to the spacious living-dining room with high ceilings and a fully equipped, open kitchen.
French doors to the small, but sunny balcony with fantastic view over the park and the church.  The hallway gives access to all the rooms and the bathroom.  Good sized bedroom at the back with doors to the dressing-room and the bathroom with bath, toilet and separate shower.  Small study/guestroom.  The apartment is provided with a very nice parquet floor”

Our Take

Two bedrooms and two baths would be great!  The floors and interior details are beautiful, two blocks from Vandel Park, close to useful Tram line, and gorgeous views of church.  The furniture took a real beating from previous tenants and the kitchen is a bit dated.  This is the most expensive apartment and surprisingly for a quite neighborhood the bottom floor of the building is occupied by a Coffee Shop (pot shop). 

Apartment #3

$2,275 a month

753 SF

2 Bedroom

1 Bathroom

Listing

“Beautiful, fully renovated maisonette in a prime location in the center of Amsterdam (70 m²)!  This furnished apartment is newly renovated and is located in one of the nicest areas of Amsterdam. Around the corner are the Rembrandt Square, the Amstel canal, Theater Carré and Waterlooplein. In the immediate vicinity are also a wide range of lively bars and restaurants. Various public transport facilities are within walking distance and the A10 is surprisingly close.

CLASSIFICATION
Ground floor: communal entrance with staircase.

First floor: entrance apartment, spacious and bright living room at the front with an open staircase to the second floor, modern kitchen to the rear with appliances (including 4-burner gas hob, extractor hood, fridge, freezer and dishwasher), dining room with the rear.

Second floor: landing, to the front is a spacious master bedroom, luxurious bathroom with WC, radiator, bath and separate shower. At the rear is a two bedroom.

Located in the city center, fully furnished and renovated villa for up to 24 months (no extension), suitable for expats, not students.”

Our Take

At edge of Southern Canal Belt, one of the most picturesque areas of town, and across from one of the best grocery stores in town.  Two floors with two bedrooms offering privacy and space for the cats to run around.  Completely renovated with nice kitchen and layout.  Furniture looks nice.  Though it has some great upside including access to a variety of Tram Lines, but also a half block south of Rembrandtplein (Rembrandt Square) which is an epicenter of nightlife and tourism and the apartment is right above a very popular drag bar which will be very noisy.

Apartment #4

$1,950 a month

592 SF

1 Bedroom

2 Bathroom

Listing

“A beautifully renovated 2-room apartment of approx 55 sqm located at the beginning of the Willemsparkweg. The renovation has just been completed so that the apartment can be involved! The apartment has a large living room with a beautiful kitchen, a beautiful oak parquet floors, paneled doors, a bedroom, a nice bathroom and two toilets.

Setting:
The apartment is located in the Old South to the corner of the Vondelpark and Van Baerlestraat and within walking distance of the Museumplein, the Concertgebouw, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the PC Hooftstraat and Cornelis Schuytstraat. In this area you will find many fun and funky shops and all the popular restaurants of Amsterdam South, as Joffers Brasserie Van Dam, the new Lexington, Bond, Old South, Mech, Pulpo, Spring, George WPA and many others. They are all within walking distance! In short, this unique apartment is surrounded by all the beauty that Amsterdam has to offer! There is ample parking with the possibility of a parking permit. Several tram and bus connections to the Van Baerlestraat are "around the corner".

Layout:
Entrance on the ground floor through an intercom system. On first floor: entrance / hall with guest toilet with fountain and a storage room where the boiler is and connections for washer and dryer. The living room is at the front with a beautiful kitchen and a nice balcony. The luxurious and bright kitchen has a 4-pitsgasfonuis, electric oven, dishwasher and fridge freezer. On the back is the bedroom with access to the bathroom. The spacious bathroom has a toilet, a shower and a sink.”

Our Take

Located in Oud Zuid (Old South) a very popular neighborhood a bit off the tourist track, though there is a hostel next door.  Close to bars, restaurants and the best museums in town.  The smallest apartment, but offers two bathrooms which would be nice if we have guests.  Newly renovated, no bathtub, no light fixtures, and most important of all, unfurnished.  It does have a nice balcany and south facing windows so good chance for light in the apartment.  We have no idea where to buy furniture and home goods... would be a huge headache.