German Apartments: What “Move-In Ready” Really Means (and What’s Missing)
We walked into our first Neubau and smiled.
Bright. Spacious. Modern-ish.
Then we looked closer.
No closets.
No light fixtures.
No bathroom mirrors.
No undersink cabinets.
No kitchen.
“Move-in ready” meant walls, heated floors, and nine dangling bulbs.
That was the moment it clicked: in Germany, you finish the apartment.
What “Ready” Really Means Here
Back in Novi, our Encore at Manchester unit came loaded.
Quartz counters. Bar lighting. Water-dispenser fridge. Gas stove. Cabinets for days.
In Stuttgart, we got the shell.
Clean. New. Echo-y.
But not livable without work.
And that mysterious Abstellraum?
At first, we had no idea.
Then Duygu turned it into a giant walk-in closet.
One big storage room beat “closet after closet” eating into the living area.
The Lighting Jungle
We counted nine hanging bulbs.
Two in the bathrooms.
Three in the bedrooms.
One in the kitchen.
One in the dining room.
One in the living room.
One in the hallway.
Nine fixtures to buy.
Nine places that could look like home — or a construction zone.
We built a plan, not a shopping spree.
Lessons We Learned
“Move-in ready” ≠ “ready to live.”Expect to add lights, storage, and a kitchen yourself.
Abstellraum is gold.One big room can solve storage better than tiny closets everywhere.
Kitchens define the budget.Cabinets + appliances will be your largest line item.
Small things become big costs.Mirrors, undersink cabinets, spotlights — they add up fast.
Start early.Lead times and appointments can stretch weeks.
Practical Tips (Do This)
Price a kitchen first. Know the range before you sign. Ask about early key access to install.
Audit the “extras.” Lights, mirrors, undersink cabinets, wardrobes. Make a checklist per room.
Verify EBK in the listing. If there’s no Einbauküche, plan to build from scratch.
Measure the Abstellraum. Decide: pantry, walk-in, or utility room — then shop with a plan.
Buy lighting in batches. Spotlights in bulk cut costs and keep the look consistent.
Keep receipts in one folder. Helpful for warranties, move-out, and security-deposit discussions.
Set a two-phase setup. Phase 1: essentials (kitchen, lights, bathroom basics). Phase 2: nice-to-haves (accent lights, shelves, decor).
What to Budget (Starting Point)
Kitchen cabinets + stove + induction hob: ~€10,000
Fridge: ~€800
Lighting fixtures: ~€40 each (bulk spotlights save)
Bathroom cabinet + mirror: ~€200–€400 per bathroom
Closets/wardrobes: ~€200 each
New is ideal if you can swing it.
If not, check Stuttgart expat groups and secondhand forums.
Either way, plan for it — these costs stack up quickly.
Reflection
Don’t assume anything is included.
North America is “ready to live.” Germany is “ready to make livable.”
More expensive than Michigan and not as nice — but we made do.
The early work paid off.
It’s not much, but it’s home away from home.
