German Apartment Viewings: Why They Feel Like a Reality Show
Our first and most competitive group viewing in Stuttgart felt like stepping onto the set of a reality show. It was near Nordbahnhof, and although we weren’t too sold on the apartment itself, the experience was unforgettable.
Instead of quietly touring the space, every prospective tenant seemed to be performing. People dropped the names of their employers — Porsche, Daimler, Bosch — or switched into the landlord’s native non-German language to build rapport. Everyone wanted to stand out. Luckily for us, we weren’t in love with the apartment, so we treated it as a trial run. But that day, we realized: in Germany, apartment viewings aren’t just about seeing the place. They’re about impressing the landlord.
What Makes Viewings Different in Germany
Back in Novi, Michigan, viewings were simple. We’d schedule an appointment, walk through the unit at our own pace, take videos, check out every room, and if we liked it, it came down to whoever put the deposit down first.
In Stuttgart, the atmosphere was different from day one. Time was limited, multiple apartments were often squeezed into a single 30-minute slot, and group viewings turned the process into a competition. Instead of comparing square footage and layouts, we had to compete for attention.
And yet, despite all the stressful tours, when we finally walked into the apartment we live in today, everything changed. The space was a few hundred euros above our budget, but within 10 steps, Duygu and I looked at each other and knew: this was our apartment. From that moment on, it wasn’t just another viewing. It was a mission to secure our new home.
The Mistakes That Came Back to Bite Us
In the rush to see as much as possible, we overlooked one critical detail: the “extras.”
On our first visit to our current building, I was shown three apartments, plus a tour of the Keller (storage rooms) and the garage. It was rushed, but at least I got a sense of what was available.
On our second visit — this time with Duygu — we focused more on the apartments themselves. We asked questions about balconies, terraces, and layouts. In the process, we skipped re-checking the Keller and garage. The agent assured us that Keller sizes were “standard” and that we could choose any parking space.
Fast forward to key handoff day: surprise. As the tenants of the penthouse apartment, we were assigned the smallest Keller in the building and a Stellplatz (parking spot) wedged between a wall and a pillar — barely usable with our SUV.
It took weeks of emails, help from our relocation consultant, and a lot of back-and-forth before we finally got reassigned to a more practical parking space. In hindsight, I wish we’d asked to see every assigned space before signing, and that we’d had legal backup from a Rechtsschutzversicherung (tenant legal insurance) sooner.
Practical Advice for North Americans
If you’re coming from North America, here are the lessons we learned about apartment tours in Stuttgart:
Always ask what’s included in the Warmmiete. Don’t assume the advertised costs cover everything.
Don’t limit your search to apartments with built-in kitchens. You’ll miss out on better options. Instead, ask if you can get early key access to install your own.
See every assigned space. Keller, bike room, Stellplatz — all of it. And get details in writing.
Be skeptical of the word “standard.” Whether it’s storage sizes or parking space options, never rely on verbal assurances.
Consider legal insurance. A Rechtsschutzversicherung gives you extra leverage if issues arise later.
Looking Back
Apartment viewings in Germany are about more than square footage. They’re about strategy, persistence, and attention to detail. Some days, it felt like we were competing on a game show. Other days, it felt like a sprint just to see every corner of a unit.
But in the end, the stress was worth it. The moment we stepped into our current apartment, we knew we’d found our home — and that clarity made all the headaches along the way fade into the background.
