FAQ - EXPAT SOLUTIONS

- Is there a point in contacting you BEFORE I come to Budapest?

If you are moving to Hungary, you might like to have certain things arranged before you even travel to the country. Do you really plan on wasting weeks in a hotel until you find a flat to rent, locate a reliable plumber or carpenter to install your kitchen, or figure out how to get cable television? We can also tell you about documents you will need that are much easier to obtain while you are still home (e.g. birth certificate). From the moment you arrive at the airport, we will make your initial weeks in Budapest free of the typical hassle that expats have to face when relocating to a new country. We are not a real estate agency, a temp agency or a shopping service. We are all of these in one - and more.

- What are the FIRST THINGS I will need when living in Hungary?

After settling in, there is still a lot of information to be gathered. You need to know where the nearest dry-cleaner is, which restaurants will serve you the best food or which ones are likely to rip you off, or where the best shopping areas, markets, English-language bookstores are, to find an international school or kindergarten for your children, or a Hungarian teacher or language school for yourself. When spending your first weeks in a new country, adjusting is more than enough - Helpers Papereater will spare you the hassle of paperwork. Whether you are here for business, for tourism, or to study in Hungary, our personalized services will provide you with all the info that you need.

- You say that Helpers is not a real estate agency or a property management firm. Can you still help me FIND PROPERTY to rent or to buy?

Whatever you need, from holiday accommodation to corporate housing, we can put you in touch with the most reliable real estate agents in town - people who work for locals, at local rates. In addition, we ourselves can accompany you to negotiate the rent or the purchase price, advise you as to which neighborhoods would suit you best or what you should pay special attention to when looking for a home, find you a garage to rent near your new place, look over (or translate) the tenancy contract for you, and take care of any paperwork involved with the process.

- Am I on my own once I HAVE AN APARTMENT or house?

Of course not! If your property needs renovation, we will help you renovate it. We will find you a reliable electrician, plumber, carpenter or interior decorator - all at local prices. We will supervise their work, negotiate the price of their service, and make sure they deliver on time. Our helpers can assist you with basically any home-related task: fitting-out, redecorating and furnishing the place, assembling the furniture, gardening or landscaping, tiling, flooring, repairs, cleaning… In fact, if you plan to stay in Hungary, you will probably turn to us for regular assistance related to the maintenance of your flat - and become eligible for significant discounts. If you are mostly located abroad, we can offer you key-holding, regular check-ups of your place, or help with renting it out. In the words of a client, Tim Waskett, "the nightmare process of buying a dream home here is fraught with hazards: endless liaising with the many intermediaries - estate agents, lawyers, builders, insurance brokers, utility providers… then, just to finish you off, there's purchasing furniture, finding competent carpenters, plumbers and electricians, installing kitchens, cleaning and so on", he adds. "What almost felt like an impossible task has actually been an enjoyable experience thanks to HELPERS."

- If you REFER me a cleaning lady, tutor, babysitter, or a personal driver, will I be paying more just because I'll also have to pay you?

Besides relying on a helper to sort out more complicated issues, you may also wish to hire people for simpler tasks such as cleaning or driving. Understandably, the normal wages of local domestic help, for instance, are lower than those of a helper. That's why referral of household help is priced differently, in a way that ensures that you get the best-quality service at the market price. We'll locate, interview, and short-list suitable candidates for as little as 50 EUR - and after you've agreed with the person you wish to hire, we not only guarantee that there will be no extra charges but also that we will replace that person once within the first month, should any problems arise. In a matter of days you will have saved our fee - by employing someone who won't overcharge you and will still provide quality service.

- Can you help me find a JOB in Hungary?

Thanks to our extensive network of contacts, we can often help foreigners in Hungary to find both full-time and temp work. This is especially so because many of our partners and clients request people searches of us. When Arthur Crane, for example, returned to Budapest after a year and a half in Washington, he anticipated a long and unpleasant job search. Within two weeks, HELPERS had arranged several interviews for him. "A week later, I was employed by an exciting tech company in a sales/marketing position very closely suited to both my background and the direction I wish to develop my career," he says. So just send us your CV, and if a suitable offer comes up, we or one of our partners will contact you immediately.

- Do you provide any special services for PET owners?

Yes! Since we are dog-owners ourselves (proud companions to Zep) we feel special devotion to our fellow pet-lovers. Instead of recommending the pet-hotels of Budapest, we can put your furry friend up with a loving host while you are on vacation, or arrange a pet-sitter for him/her for that period. The helpers will happily walk your dog, take your cat to the vet, the beauty salon, or help you enter a dog-show. Oh, you don't have a pet yet? Don't despair - we will find you the dog or other animal companion that you need to make your life complete. Want to bring your pet with you from abroad? We will help you get the necessary permits. Anything for our four-legged buddies!