The process
How we work, from first call to first month
This isn't a rigid checklist. Every household's order shifts a little depending on whether the lease is signed before or after arrival, or whether school even applies. But most engagements move through the same five stages, roughly in this order.
Discovery call
Before anything else, we get on a call, video or voice, and talk through your situation. Where are you moving from. Is it just you, or a partner and kids. What's the general budget range for a place to live, and when do you land. This isn't a sales pitch, it's closer to a briefing, and it shapes everything that comes after it.
We'll also ask what you'd rather handle yourself. Some clients want the full sequence covered, others just want a hand with the bank account and can manage the rest on their own. Both are fine starting points.
Home search & viewings
We pull listings that match what you told us on the discovery call, filter out the ones that look better in photos than they'll look in person, and book viewings around your schedule. If you're not in Bucharest yet, we do a first pass of viewings by video call and shortlist two or three properties to see in person once you land.
During in-person viewings, we go with you, ask the questions that don't occur to most newcomers, and translate anything the landlord or agent says on the spot.
Moving-in week
Once the lease is signed, the less glamorous part begins. We register the apartment's electricity, gas, and internet accounts, schedule the technician visit, and go with you to a mobile provider to get a Romanian SIM sorted. Most of this happens within the first several days of moving in, and it's the stretch where having someone who already knows the local process saves the most time.
Daily life setup
With utilities and connectivity running, we turn to the more paperwork-heavy items. Opening a local bank account usually needs an in-person branch visit and a specific set of documents, so we book the appointment, confirm what to bring, and sit with you at the branch while it gets set up. If you've got kids, this is also when we build a shortlist of schools that fit your family and start the enrollment conversations.
Orientation & ongoing support
Somewhere in the first month, we walk your neighbourhood with you properly, not just the viewing route, but the actual daily-life map: pharmacy, market, the tram stop that saves ten minutes. After that, we stay reachable for the smaller questions that come up once you're genuinely living here, whether that's a billing question on the internet account or finding a second school option.
A reminder on scope: none of the above includes visa applications, residence permit filings, or legal status questions. Those go through a licensed immigration lawyer or notary. We handle the logistics that sit around that process, not the legal process itself.